An Retrospective Analysis Of Intraoperative Findings On Entrapment Factors In Patients With Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the types and frequency distributions ofneurovascular entrapment factors in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinicaldata of96patients (100sides) with TOS who received surgical treatmentin depatment of hand sugery of China-Japan Union Hospital of JilinUniversity from September2008to Febuary2015, among which62sideswere women (62%) and average age was42.1years old.Results: By intraoperative observation, nerve entrapment factorssuch as anterior scalene muscle (60%), middle scalene muscle (57%),pectoralis minor muscle (51%), abnormal fibrous bands beneath clavicle(45%) and subclavius muscle (37%), abnormal fibrous bands besideanterior scalene muscle (37%), abnormal fibrous bands beside middlescalene muscle (32%), first rib (15%), scalenus minimus muscle (12%),cervical rib (6%) and transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra(5%) were the highest prevalence, besides Sibsin fascia, space occupying lesion, transverse cervical artery, epineuriumsome and some other specialtypes were also found.Conclusions: The studies of neurovascular entrapment factors inthoracic outlet syndrome have significant meanings to surgical procedureimprovement. Because of the complexity and diversity of the factors, wesuggest that complete preoperative relevant examinations and entiredecompression could result in better long-term outcomes.