Complications after surgery of thoracic outlet syndrome

From 1985 to 2001,124 patients who had developed a ThoracicOutlet Syndrome (T.O.S.) were operated on in our centre. We realized192 surgical procedures, 115 by cervicotomy, 38 by axillaryapproach (Roos procedure), to perform the removal of the first riband neurolyse C8-Th1 roots and the lower trunk of the brachialplexus. Twenty eight complications or technical insufficiencieswere observed in our series with the axillary approach (Roos procedure)and 9 with cervicotomy (19, 7 %). Since 1998, we gave preferenceto supra and infra clavicular surgical approach for the removalof the first rib - according to Cormier’s technique (n=39). Thisapproach has been chosen to undertake 13 secondary procedures forpatients referred to us after failure by axillary approach. None of thecomplications encountered with other surgical procedures was observed.