title: An improved method of exposure for transaxillary first rib resection.
abstract: Transaxillary first rib excision, used for thoracic outlet decompression, requires that the patient be in the lateral decubitus position with the arm elevated. This is traditionally accomplished by a junior resident or medical student holding the arm in the air for the duration of the case. This technical note presents a simplified method of passive arm elevation using orthopedic techniques that provides superb exposure of this area with no appreciable patient morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. karl_illig@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Karl A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Illig
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000295:instrumentation; D012272:Ribs / Q000601:surgery*; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome