title: Quadrilateral space syndrome: a rare complication of thoracic surgery.
abstract: We report a case of quadrilateral space syndrome related to thoracic surgery. A 21-year-old man underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery for a left-sided pneumothorax. After the operation, he presented with difficulties in left arm abduction and paresthesia over the lateral aspect of the shoulder and upper arm. Deltoid muscle atrophy and tenderness over the quadrilateral space were also observed. On further examination, he was diagnosed with isolated paralysis of the axillary nerve, the so-called quadrilateral space syndrome. This is a rare complication, but it interferes with the activities of daily living, and thus one should pay attention to this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Social Insurance Kyoto Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. fs2m-nsmr@asahi-net.or.jp
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamagashira
authors.forename: Shinpachiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noumi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Daishiro
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla / Q000294:innervation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods