Síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico: uma revisão narrativa / Thoracic outlet syndrome: a narrative review

RESUMO A Síndrome do Desfiladeiro Torácico (SDT) é causada pela compressão do plexo braquial, artéria subclávia e veia subclávia na região do desfiladeiro torácico. Estas estruturas podem ser comprimidas entre a clavícula e a primeira costela ou por um número de variações anatômicas. A compressão neurológica é a forma mais comum da síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico. Complicações vasculares ocorrem com pouca frequência. Complicações arteriais geralmente resultam da compressão da artéria subclávia por costela cervical completa. As complicações venosas estão muitas vezes relacionadas à compressão muscular da veia subclávia. A forma neurogênica, anteriormente descrita, é a mais comum, constituindo mais de 95% dos casos. Já a forma venosa representa 2% a 3% e, a arterial, cerca de 1% dos casos. Fatores de risco incluem biótipo e variações individuais, como genética, idade e sexo. No Brasil, não há dados acerca da epidemiologia da SDT. Diante da suspeita de SDT é necessária uma avaliação clínica detalhada, seguida de exames complementares para elucidação da causa. O tratamento é direcionado de acordo com a etiologia e a presença ou não de complicações. A proposta do presente trabalho foi realizar uma revisão narrativa sobre a SDT, versando sobre sua etiologia, fisiopatologia, epidemiologia, avaliação clínica, exames complementares, diagnósticos diferenciais e tratamento.

ABSTRACT The Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) results from compression of the brachial plexus, the subclavian artery and the subclavian vein in the thoracic outlet region. This compression may take place between the clavicle and the first rib or by a number of anatomical variations. Neurological compression is the most common form of thoracic outlet syndrome. Vascular complications occur infrequently. Arterial complications usually result from compression of the subclavian artery by a complete cervical rib. Venous complications are often related to muscle compression of the subclavian vein. The neurogenic form, previously described, is the most common, constituting more than 95% of cases, while the venous represents 2% to 3%, and the arterial, about 1%. Risk factors include biotype and individual variations such as genetics, age and gender. In Brazil, there are no data on the epidemiology of TOS. Given the suspicion of TOS, a detailed clinical evaluation is necessary, followed by complementary exams to elucidate the cause. The treatment is directed according to the etiology and the presence or absence of complications. The purpose of this study was to perform a narrative review on TOS, focusing on its etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical evaluation, complementary exams, differential diagnoses, and treatment.

Síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico neurogênica verdadeira: relato de caso / True neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome

A síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico neurogênica verdadeira é uma condição rara, motivada pelo angustiamento do plexo braquial inferior e médio, quando da sua passagem por um reduzido espaço inter-escalênico. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma jovem de 16 anos que apresentou atrofia e fraqueza da mão direita de início insidioso e evolução progressiva. Seus exames neurológico, de imagem e eletroneuromiográfico apontaram para síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico neurogênica verdadeira à direita na presença de costela cervical bilateral. Num acompanhamento de 22 meses após a ressecção da costela cervical do lado sintomático, houve melhora da função motora mantendo-se amiotrofia tenar.

The true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is a very rare condition caused by involvement of the inferior and medium brachial plexus cords in a reduced interscalenic space. The authors describe a 16-year-old girl with insidious wasting and progressive weakness of her right hand. Her neurologic examination, images, and eletroneuromiographic results point to a right side true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome with bilateral cervical rib. After a twenty-two months follow-up post right cervical rib resection, she feels better from the motor function aspect, but maintains tenar atrophy.

True neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome in a competitive swimmer: a case report of this rare association

True neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is an uncommon disorder despite of be a frequent reason for referral to the EMG laboratories. We describe the second case in the literature of true TOS in a competitive swimmer with progressive weakness and severe atrophy of the left thenar eminence. EMG showed lower trunk plexopathy. X-ray and MRI of the cervical spine and brachial plexus were normal. Surgical exploration evidenced the lower trunk retracted and pulled by a fibrous band. It was excised and neurolysis of the plexus was done with gradual improvement of function. We discuss the possible pathophysiology of this association.

A síndrome do desfiladeiro torácico verdadeiro é condição incomum, apesar de ser uma razão freqüente de encaminhamento aos laboratórios de eletroneuromiografia. Nós descrevemos o segundo caso na literatura desta doença rara em um nadador competitivo com fraqueza e atrofia severa da eminência tenar esquerda. A ENMG mostrou plexopatia do tronco inferior. O RX e as ressonâncias magnéticas da coluna cervical e do plexo braquial foram normais. Exploração cirúrgica mostrou o tronco inferior tracionado por uma banda fibrosa. Ela foi ressecada e procedeu-se a neurólise do plexo com melhora gradual da função. Nós discutimos a possível fisiopatologia desta associação.

Home - based physical therapy for throacic outlet syndrome

Diagnosis and treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome [TOS] are controversial. Surgical treatment has proved no excellent outcome. The results of physical therapy are variable and even disappointing. To find the results of a home-based physical therapy for improvement of TOS symptoms. Method: 65 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of TOS were studied consecutively in a one year period [1998-1999] at the Iranian Hospital-Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For the treatment, no anti-inflammatory medicine was used to find out the exact effects of the home-based physical therapy. The physical therapy and postural correction consisted of three main parts. All patients learned the exercises in the orthopaedics clinic. The results were studied based on a 10-grade pain rating scale. The mean age of the patients was 36.2 years. 33 patients were men and 32 were women. The duration of the patient's symptoms ranged from less than one month to more than one year. Right upper extremity was affected in 27.7%, left side in 44.6% and both sides in 27.7%. 47% of the patients had C7 long transverse processes on their anteroposterior neck X-rays and 2 had cervical ribs. 95.4% of the patients felt better with this treatment and 33.8% had improvement more than 50% [P<0.001]. The home-based physical therapy is objectively effective on TOS and if supplemented by anti inflammatory medicine is a suitable protocol for patients who have no easy access to physiotherapy wards. It is economical and time-saving

Resección transaxilar de la primera costilla en el síndrome de salida del tórax / Transaxillary resection of the first rib in the thoracic extrusion syndrome

El propósito de este escrito es informar los resultados del tratamiento de 17 enfermos a quienes se les hizo resección transaxilar de la primera costilla por síndrome de salida del tórax. El cuadro clínico fue la clave para el diagnóstico y en todos se realizaron estudios para descartar otras afecciones. Cuatro pacientes tenían costilla cervical que se les extirpó también por vía transaxilar. Los síntomas neurológicos por compresión fueron los más comunes (80 por ciento). El resultado del tratamiento quirúrgico se consideró exelente en 80 por ciento de los casos, bueno en 14 por ciento y malo en 6 por ciento

Impedance plethysmographic observations in thoracic outlet syndrome.

Forty patients with symptoms of neuro-vascular compression in the upper extremities were subjected to impedance plethysmographic study using Parulkar's method. Two patients recorded decreased blood flow (BFI) in supine position and were diagnosed as having partial occlusion at subclavian level. Sixteen of the patients recorded decreased BFI on 90 degrees abduction and hyper-abduction. Twelve of these patients had radiological evidence of anomalous cervicle ribs. In remaining four patients extrinsic impression on the subclavian artery due to fibrous deposits was confirmed by arteriography. Remaining 22 patients recorded normal impedance plethysmograms. Impedance plethysmography thus provided a non-invasive modality for confirmation of vascular compression in thoracic outlet syndrome.