Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Reports and Analysis With Ultrasound Imaging

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by compression of the brachial plexus, in most cases under the pectoralis minor muscle in the infraclavicular region of the shoulder. The hypothesis is that ultrasound imaging can be used to visualize brachial plexus compression and distortion of the pectoralis muscle during arm activity, such as abduction, and that normal subjects will not demonstrate any plexus compression or muscle distortion.

Detailed Description
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Four patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) underwent clinical exam and nerve testing to prove that they had TOS and no other nerve abnormality. They subsequently had ultrasound imaging of the shoulder (infraclavicular region) at rest and during arm abduction stress testing. Two control subjects had similar clinical exams and nerve testing to prove they did not have TOS, and then underwent similar ultrasound stress testing. The TOS patients demonstrated brachial plexus compression and pectoralis minor muscle distortion during the stress tests, and the normal subjects showed no plexus compression or muscle distortion.

Official Title
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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Reports and Analysis - Ultrasound Imaging and Pathomechanics of Brachial Plexus Compression

Conditions
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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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INCLUSION CRITERIA: Thoracic outlet patients must have: symptoms consistent with thoracic outlet syndrome, and no electrical testing abnormality, and positive arm abduction stress tests. Normal subjects must have: no upper limb symptoms, or normal nerve testing, and negative arm abduction stress test EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Thoracic outlet patients excluded if they have: nerve test abnormalities, or negative arm abduction stress test Normals excluded if they have: abnormalities on nerve testing, or positive arm abduction stress tests

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Thoracic outlet syndrome<br>These patients have documented thoracic outlet syndrome | |
| Normal Subjects<br>These patients have no thoracic outlet syndrome | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brachial plexus compression on ultrasound imaging in thoracic outlet syndrome patients |  | 4 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No brachial plexus compression in normal subjects |  | 4 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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thoracic outlet syndrome, brachial plexopathy, ultrasonography