▼ THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME (TOS) ▼ ◉ The thoracic outlet is the space between your collarbone (clavicle) and your first rib. This narrow passageway is crowded with blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. If the shoulder muscles in your chest are not strong enough to hold the collarbone in place, it can slip down and forward, putting pressure on the nerves and blood vessels that lie under it. This causes a variety of symptoms which together are known as thoracic outlet syndrome. ◉ It can affect one or more of the nerves that innervate the upper limb and/or blood vessels as they pass between the chest and upper extremity, specifically in the brachial plexus, the subclavian vein, and, rarely, the subclavian artery. ◉ Patients often complain of pain and numbness in their fingers, hands, or arms on the affected side.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 20:36:24 +0000