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Acoustic Neuroma
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Ankylosing Spondylitis
Aqueductal Stenosis
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Brachial Plexus Injury
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Carotid Dissection
Carotid Stenosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
Chordomas
Chorea
Chronic Subdural Hematomas
Colloid Cyst
Coma
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Cranial GunShot Wounds
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Craniosynostosis
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Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
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Facet Joint Syndrome
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Glioma
Glomus Jugulare Tumor
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Hemangioblastomas
Hemi-Facial Spasm
Hydrocephalus
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Intracranial Hypotension
JPA
Low-Grade Astrocytoma
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Lymphoma
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Metastatic Brain Tumors
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Myelomeningocele
Myelopathy
Nelson's Syndrome
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Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Oligodendroglioma
Optic Nerve Glioma
Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
Osteoarthritis of the Spine
Osteomyelitis
Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
Parkinsons Syndrome
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Peripheral Nerve Injury
Phantom Limb Pain
Pineal Tumor
Pineoblastoma
Pineocytoma
Platybasia
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Post-Traumatic Seizures
Primary CNS Lymphoma
Pseudotumor Cerebri
Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
Recurrent Adenomas
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schwannomas
Scoliosis
Seizure
Skull Fracture
Slit Ventricle Syndrome
Spasticity
Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Spinal Compression Fractures
Spine Conditions
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
Spinal Cord Tumors
Stenosis
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Syringomyelia
Tethered Cord Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
Torticollis
Traumatic Hematomas
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trochanteric Bursitis
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
Conditions Treated
Acoustic Neuroma
Adult Tethered Cord
Acromegaly
Acute Subdural Hematomas
Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Aqueductal Stenosis
Arachnoid Cysts
Arnold Chiari Malformation
Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Astrocytoma
Ballism
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Brachial Plexus Injury
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Brain Attack (Stroke)
Brain AVM
Brain Conditions
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Carotid Dissection
Carotid Stenosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Causalgia
Cavernous Angioma
Cerebral Aneurysms
Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
Chordomas
Chorea
Chronic Subdural Hematomas
Colloid Cyst
Coma
Concussion
Congenital Dermal Sinus
Cranial GunShot Wounds
Craniopharyngioma
Craniosynostosis
Cushing's Disease
Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
Dandy Walker Syndrome
Degenerative Disc Disease
Dermoid Tumor
Disc Herniation
Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
Dystonia
Ependymoma
Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
Epidural Hematomas
Epilepsy
Essential Tremor
Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
Facet Joint Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Ganglioglioma
Glioblastoma
Germinoma
Glioma
Glomus Jugulare Tumor
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Hemangioblastomas
Hemi-Facial Spasm
Hydrocephalus
Hyperhidrosis
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Intracranial Hypotension
JPA
Low-Grade Astrocytoma
Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
Lymphoma
Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
Medulloblastoma
Meningioma Brain Tumor
Meralgia Paresthetica
Metastatic Brain Tumors
Moyamoya Disease
Myelomeningocele
Myelopathy
Nelson's Syndrome
Neurocysticercosis
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Oligodendroglioma
Optic Nerve Glioma
Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
Osteoarthritis of the Spine
Osteomyelitis
Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
Parkinsons Syndrome
Pediatric Conditions
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Peripheral Nerve Injury
Phantom Limb Pain
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Pineocytoma
Platybasia
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Post-Traumatic Seizures
Primary CNS Lymphoma
Pseudotumor Cerebri
Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
Recurrent Adenomas
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schwannomas
Scoliosis
Seizure
Skull Fracture
Slit Ventricle Syndrome
Spasticity
Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Spinal Compression Fractures
Spine Conditions
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Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Syringomyelia
Tethered Cord Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trochanteric Bursitis
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
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Conditions Treated
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
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About Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
General Information
Thoracic outlet syndrome involves compression of the
brachial plexus
, subclavian artery and subclavian vein by a cervical rib, fibrous band or other nearby structures.
The brachial plexus nerve network manages the sensory and motor functions of the shoulders, arms, forearms and hands, and some muscles of the back and chest. The subclavian blood vessels rest beneath the clavicle, or collar bone.
Symptoms
Symptoms include neck and shoulder pain with numbness, tingling, and "pins and needles" sensation in the forearm that worsens when carrying a suitcase, shopping bag or similar item.
Decrease in size of the muscles and weakness of the hands may also occur.
Signs of compression of the subclavian artery and vein include whiteness from decreased blood flow when elevating an affected arm; Raynaud’s phenomenon, or numbness or pain in the feet or hands; brittle nails; and loss of wrist pulse upon outward movement of the shoulder.
Diagnosis
Plain x-rays of the brachial plexus region may reveal the source of the compression.
Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) will help distinguish thoracic outlet syndrome from other peripheral nerve lesions.
Treatment
In middle-aged people with poor posture and no evidence of abnormality on plain x-rays, neck and postural exercises may be helpful.
In some patients, surgical section of the fibrous band and/or removal of the cervical rib can relieve sensory symptoms and may halt the progression of motor abnormalities.