Understanding Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Do you often feel pain in your neck, shoulder, or arm, or a tingling sensation in your hands? These could be symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a condition caused by the compression of veins, arteries, or nerves between your collarbone and top rib.

Even though TOS is relatively rare, it can affect both men and women of all age brackets. However, it's more prevalent among people aged between 20 and 50 years. But there's good news! TOS is treatable, with most patients recording satisfactory improvement after treatment.

What exactly is TOS? Think of it as a traffic jam in the thoracic outlet, the space between your top rib and collarbone. This space is like a highway for your veins, arteries, and nerves. If there's a "traffic jam" or compression, these structures can't work as they should. This leads to the uncomfortable symptoms you might experience, such as arm, neck or shoulder discomfort, tingling or numbness in the hand, or hand and arm weakness.

TOS can be mainly classified into three types: Neurogenic, Venous, and Arterial. Each type depends on what's causing the "traffic jam":

• Neurogenic TOS (most common, over 90% of cases): Caused by nerve compression.
• Venous TOS (3-5% of cases): Caused by vein compression, which can lead to blood clot formation.
• Arterial TOS (1-2% of cases): Arises from artery compression, resulting in reduced blood flow to your arm.

Remember, TOS can affect one or both sides of the body. In some instances, you may experience more than one type of TOS.

Thanks to effective treatments, living with TOS does not have to be a burden. Yale Medicine can start your journey back to well-being. Knowledge is the first step, so it's crucial to become aware of what could be causing your discomfort.

Request an appointment today with a Yale Medicine specialist who can guide you on the path to recovery.