title: Supraclavicular surgical approach for thoracic outlet syndrome: 10 years of experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) may be vascular, neurological or combined symptoms involving both. Treatment of TOS is generally conservative. Surgical treatment is required when radiological results indicate anatomical abnormality. This study aims to present the surgical outcomes of TOS patients treated with supraclavicular approach via microsurgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  41 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome were rewieved retrospectively. The pain was determined using both on visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry score both in the preoperative and postoperative period. All patients underwent electromyography including brachial plexus, ulnar and median nerves. Computed Tomography (CT) angiographic examination was applied dynamically with required manoeuvres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-op VAS scores were recorded as 0.8 for the arm, 0.6 for the shoulder and 0.5 for the neck, while pre-op VAS scores were 6.3 for the arm, 6.0 for the shoulder and 5.2 for the neck. Post-op Oswestry disability index (ODI) average was found as 14,2, while this figure was 67,4 during the pre-operative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate patient selection is imperative for increasing the success of TOS surgery. Microscopic TOS surgery yields satisfactory results with smaller incision, safer surgery and a lower rate of complication.
authors.affiliation: Neurospinal Academy, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalbayrak
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Teyfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult