Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Reports and Analysis With Ultrasound Imaging

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

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01196637

Enrollment

Registered

2010-09-08

Start date

2010-06-30

Completion date

2010-09-30

Last updated

2010-09-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Keywords

thoracic outlet syndrome, brachial plexopathy, ultrasonography

Brief summary

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

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.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CONTROL

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 70 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Brachial plexus compression on ultrasound imaging in thoracic outlet syndrome patients	4 months

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
No brachial plexus compression in normal subjects	4 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results