title: Syndrome of fascial incarceration of the long thoracic nerve: winged scapula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the results from early intervention surgery in patients with the syndrome of fascial incarceration of the long thoracic nerve and consequent winged scapula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with a syndrome of nerve trapping without specific nerve strain limitations were followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients achieved improvement of their symptoms 6-20 months after the procedure. The motor symptoms completely disappeared, without any persistent pain. The medial deformity of the winged scapula improved in all cases, without any residual esthetic disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The approach of early surgical release seems to be a better predictor for recovery from non-traumatic paralysis of the anterior serratus muscle.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson Braga
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil ; Institute of Sports Medicine, Hospital Mãe de Deus, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pacheco
keywords: Nerve compression syndromes; Scapula; Thorax