Non-specific/disputed Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Poorly defined chronic pain syndrome, suggesting brachial plexus involvement
- Unexplained pain in the upper extremity, scapular area, and cervical region
- Symptoms typically due to traumatic event (i.e.: motor vehicle accident or work-related injury)
- Normal results in objective neurological examination
- Patients have tendency to guard extremity and demonstrate weakness leading to unreliable sensory examination and difficulty with physical examination
- Atrophy is not common, except in patients with chronic disuse
- Provocative tests are positive in a wide anatomic region, extending outside of area innervated by brachial plexus
(Hooper et. al., 2010; Huang & Zager, 2004; Watson et. al., 2009)