Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Reports and Analysis With Ultrasound Imaging

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Reports and Analysis - Ultrasound Imaging and Pathomechanics of Brachial Plexus Compression

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01196637
• Other study ID #: TOS-US BP JAOA
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 5, 2010
• Last updated: September 8, 2010
• Start date: June 2010
• Est. completion date: September 2010

Study information

• Verified date: September 2010
• Source: EMG Labs of Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by compression of the brachial plexus, in most cases under the pectoralis minor muscle in the infraclavicular region of the shoulder. The hypothesis is that ultrasound imaging can be used to visualize brachial plexus compression and distortion of the pectoralis muscle during arm activity, such as abduction, and that normal subjects will not demonstrate any plexus compression or muscle distortion.

Description:

Four patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) underwent clinical exam and nerve testing to prove that they had TOS and no other nerve abnormality. They subsequently had ultrasound imaging of the shoulder (infraclavicular region) at rest and during arm abduction stress testing. Two control subjects had similar clinical exams and nerve testing to prove they did not have TOS, and then underwent similar ultrasound stress testing. The TOS patients demonstrated brachial plexus compression and pectoralis minor muscle distortion during the stress tests, and the normal subjects showed no plexus compression or muscle distortion.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 6
• Est. completion date: September 2010
• Est. primary completion date: September 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 70 Years

Eligibility

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Thoracic outlet patients must have:

• symptoms consistent with thoracic outlet syndrome, and

• no electrical testing abnormality, and

• positive arm abduction stress tests.

Normal subjects must have:

• no upper limb symptoms, or

• normal nerve testing, and

• negative arm abduction stress test

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Thoracic outlet patients excluded if they have:

• nerve test abnormalities, or

• negative arm abduction stress test

Normals excluded if they have:

• abnormalities on nerve testing, or

• positive arm abduction stress tests

Study Design

Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Syndrome
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	EMG Labs of AARA	Paradise Valley	Arizona

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
EMG Labs of Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Brachial plexus compression on ultrasound imaging in thoracic outlet syndrome patients		4 months	No
Secondary	No brachial plexus compression in normal subjects		4 months	No