Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

What it is, why it happens, and how to treat it

The shoulder is the most complex and fragile joint in the human body.

Humans use their hands for everything. We are tactile creatures with incredible dexterity. Unfortunately, all of that dexterity relies on a group of nerves and blood vessels running through a small area in our shoulder. This is the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome.

I suspect this syndrome goes undiagnosed more often than it’s diagnosed. Symptoms range from nothing to limb-threatening ischemia and everything in between. Before we get into the symptoms, we must cover the underlying anatomy. This will help you understand why the presentation is so varied.