Síndrome del Outlet Torácico: ¿Una Patología Siempre Quirúrgica? Análisis de una Serie de 31 Cirugías Realizadas por Vía Supraclavicular Serie clínica

Background: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a compression of the brachial plexus that remains highly controversial. Classification in True or Neurogenic Outlet (TTO) and Disputed or Non-neurogenic Outlet (DTO) is becoming very popular. The former is characterized by a muscular atrophy of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, while the latter has only sensitive symptoms. The purpose of this article is to analyze the results obtained in a series of 31 patients. Methods: All patients with diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet operated between January 2003 and December 2012 with a minimum follow-up of six months where included. Age, sex, symptoms, classification, preoperative studies results, complications and recurrences were analyzed. Results: 31 surgeries performed in 30 patients, 9 with TTO (8 women, mean age 24.3 years) and 21 with DTO (18 women, mean age 37.4 years, 1 recurrence) were included. Ninety percent of patients presented neurophysiological and 66.6% imagenological preoperative disturbances. All TTO and only 36.7% of DTO showed clear pathological findings during surgical exploration. A high percentage (87,5% sensitive and 77.7% motor) of TTO ameliorated after surgical decompression. Only 45.5% of DTO showed permanent positive changes, 13.6% temporary, 36.6% no changes, and 4.5%(one case) showed deterioration after decompresive surgery. Complications after surgery were more frequent -but temporary- in TTO cases (33.3%), than in DTO (13.6%). Conclusions: TTO showed a favorable outcome after surgery. DTO showed a worst -but still positive- postoperative result if patients are selected properly. These data are in concordance with other recent reports.