Two year follow-up of patients operated on for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Effects on sick-leave incidence

Abstract

This report is based on 175 cases of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) which were followed for two years after resection of the first rib. Good or fair results were achieved in 59%. An anomaly restricting the thoracic outlet was significantly more often found in patients with a good outcome after surgery. The results of surgery correlated well to the time for sick-leave. A conservative attitude to surgical treatment of TOS is recommended, due to the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis.