Differentiation of thoracic outlet syndrome from treatment-resistant cervical brachial pain syndromes: development and utilization of a questionnaire, clinical examination and ultrasound evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to determine which factors differentiate patients with a good outcome after treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) from patients with a poor outcome.


METHODS
A total of 85 patients, who were examined during one year, had at least 6 months of follow up after treatment for TOS with either surgery or botulinum chemodenervation.


RESULTS
Socioeconomic factors of work disability or workers' compensation claims did not differentiate treatment-responsive TOS from treatment-resistant cases. There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding the presence of anomalous anatomy detected by ultrasonography or regarding the presence of subclavian artery flow acceleration or occlusion detected by duplex sonography. Several factors were noted more frequently in treatment-resistant patients: sensory complaints extending beyond lower trunk dermatomes (42% vs. 10%), weakness extending beyond lower trunk myotomes (19% vs. 2%), histories of previous non-TOS surgery of the neck or upper limbs (50% vs.17%), comorbidities of fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (81% vs. 12%), and depression (35% vs. 10%). Treatment-resistant patients complained about more widespread functional impairments on a validated Cervical Brachial Symptom Questionnaire (CBSQ) than treatment-responsive patients. Resistant cases responded less often to a scalene test block (38% vs. 100%), which is designed to simulate the effects of targeted treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, compared to patients with a good outcome after targeted treatment, patients with a poor outcome had more diffuse complaints and responded less often to a scalene test block.
Jordan
Sheldon E
SE
Neurological Associates of West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA. shellyj@aol.com
Ahn
Samuel S
SS
Gelabert
Hugh A
HA
D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D015897:Comorbidity; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012272:Ribs / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013349:Subclavian Steal Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001905:Botulinum Toxins