Surgeons Find Better Ways to Treat Nerve Compression Disorder that Can Sideline Athletes (IMAGE)

WashU Medicine

Surgeons Find Better Ways to Treat Nerve Compression Disorder that Can Sideline Athletes

Caption

Surgery to treat neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome targets two areas of nerve compression -- the scalene triangle (black triangle) and the pectoralis minor tendon (black circle). Many patients must undergo surgery in both places to relieve pressure on the nerves and alleviate symptoms. But a subset of patients who only have symptoms below the collarbone near the shoulder may do just as well with a minimally invasive procedure that only detaches the pectoralis minor tendon (black circle).

Credit

Robert W. Thompson, MD

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