title: First rib resection for the thoracic outlet syndrome.
abstract: Review of a personal series of 25 first rib resections for thoracic outlet syndrome shows that operation offers a 60% chance of improvement for an acceptable morbidity. This series is the first to consist solely of patients operated on for brachial plexus compression and diagnosed by stated criteria, which were: (1) pain and paraesthesiae running down the arm into the fingers (usually ulnar, but not exclusively); (2) reproduction of distal symptoms by pulling the shoulder down and back, and/or straight down, and/or forwards; (3) pressure in the supraclavicular fossa over the brachial plexus is painful and may reproduce the distal symptoms; and (4) a normal radiculogram.
authors.affiliation: Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012272:Ribs / Q000601:surgery*; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*