Síndrome de salida torácica (TOS)…
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a term use in describing a group of disorders resulting from the compression, irritation or injury of the blood vessels and/or nerves in the upper chest and lower neck area.
The name is derived from the thoracic outlet, which is the space between the upper chest and the lower neck where the affected grouping of blood vessels and nerves is found.
Signos y síntomas
The signs and symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome will include pain in the shoulder, arm, or neck, numbness, and in some cases the impaired circulation of blood in the affected area.
There is a common confusion of the pain experienced in thoracic outlet syndrome and the pain for angina which is pain in the chest as a result of lack of enough oxygen in the muscles of the heart.
The two conditions are distinguished because pain associated with thoracic outlet syndrome will not worsen with walking; it increases when an individual raises the affected arm.
The signs and symptoms the patient is experiencing will assist in the determination of the disorder they are suffering from.
Thoracic outlet syndrome disorders will vary according to the body part or parts affected. In most cases, the syndrome will affect the nerves but there are other cases that involve blood vessels; but this type of thoracic outlet syndrome is not as common as the nerve related one.
Tipos
neurogénico
This is a thoracic outlet syndrome type that is associated with soft and bony tissues in the lower part of the neck.
The condition is caused by the irritation and compression of the brachial plexus nerves which are the nerves supporting movement and sensory functions to the arm all the way to the fingers.
The symptoms will include numbness, weakness experienced in the hand, hand muscle size decrease (occurs in one side of the body) pain, tingling, numbness and weakness of the neck, arms and chest.
Venoso
This is another thoracic outlet syndrome type that occurs as a result of damaged major veins in the upper part of the chest and lower neck region.
This condition will mostly appear suddenly after tiring or unusual arm exercise. Symptoms will include swelled arm, hands and fingers, weakness and heaviness of the neck and arms.
The veins in the front of the chest will appear swollen or dilated.
Arterial
This type of thoracic outlet syndrome is the least common but the most serious of the three.
This type is caused by congenital abnormalities of bony tissues in the upper chest and lower neck region. Symptoms associated with this type include coldness in the hands and fingers, sore fingers, numbness, and inadequate blood circulation in the fingers, hands and arms.
Causas
The disorders resulting from thoracic outlet syndrome are not clearly understood.
What is known is that the compression of verves and/or blood vessels in the thoracic outlet passage ways will lead to their irritation and this is what leads to thoracic outlet syndrome.
This syndrome can arise as a result of an extra first rib or because of an old fracture of the collarbone which will be responsible for the reduction of the space normally occupied by the nerves and the blood vessels.
There are many causes of thoracic outlet syndrome but soft and bony tissues are among the most common.
Factores de riesgo
Los siguientes son algunos de los factores que aumentarán el riesgo de desarrollar el síndrome de salida torácica.
Servicios
Arm & Leg Pain Conditions
Tratamiento del túnel carpiano
Síndrome del intestino irritable
Cefalea primaria
> Tumores o ganglios linfáticos grandes ubicados en la axila o en la parte superior del pecho.
> Trastornos relacionados con el sueño
> Mala postura
> Lesión en la espalda o el cuello
> Depresión o estrés
> Lesiones repetitivas resultantes del transporte de cargas pesadas en el hombro.
> Participación en deportes o juegos que impliquen movimientos repetitivos del hombro o brazo como natación, baloncesto, balonmano, voleibol, golf, béisbol, cricket, entre muchos otros.
> Levantamiento de pesas
Diagnóstico
The success in the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome starts with the right diagnosis.
Medical experts who can treat this condition include vascular medicine physicians, thoracic/chest surgeons, and vascular surgeons.
The medical practitioner will carry out a physical examination and also look at the diagnostic history of the patient.
Some physicians will carry out evaluations that are aimed at eliminating neurological conditions such as cervical spine disease which might have similar symptoms as thoracic outlet syndrome.
Some of the additional test that might be included in the diagnostic process includes nerve conduction studies for the evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve functionality.
Vascular studies which include the assessment of veins and arteries. Others may include chest x-ray, cervical spine x-ray, CT scan or MRI of the chest and spine, MRI of the blood vessels, blood tests and venogram or arteriogram which is x-ray that used dye to observe the blood flow.
Tratamiento
La evidencia del tratamiento del síndrome de salida torácica aún es escasa, pero se han informado casos en los que los pacientes respondieron bien a tratamientos conservadores como reposo, fisioterapia y medicamentos. Sólo en casos raros se utiliza o se necesita cirugía.
Terapia Física
Physical therapy and stretching are the most common non-invasive treatment approached used in managing thoracic outlet syndrome.
The stretching is aimed at reducing the impingement of nerves and blood vessels, decompression of the thoracic cavity and realigning of the ligaments, muscles, tendons and bones that might be causing the problem.
Medicación
Las inyecciones de cortisona en el músculo o articulación involucrada ayudarán a disminuir la inflamación. Se podrían utilizar inyecciones de Botox, pero no funcionarán mejor que el placebo.
Surgery has also been used in successfully managing thoracic outlet syndrome especially in cases where the 1strib is behind the nerve, vein or artery compression and involves removal of this rib.
The same technique can also be used in the removal of a cervical or rudimentary rib causing the compression.
Physical therapy is used before the surgery to improve the outcome and after the procedure to improve the recovery process.he outcome and after the procedure to improve the recovery process.
