A COMPARISON OF SURGERY FOR NEUROGENIC THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME BETWEEN LABORERS AND NONLABORERS

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors of outcome following surgical interven tion for neurologic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS). METHODS: In a ret rospective study of patients surgically treated for NTOS, outcome was evaluated by postoperative symptoms and the ability of patients to ret urn to work. RESULTS: Good, fair, and poor results were obtained in 26 (48%), 21 (39%), and 7 (13%) patients, respectively. The best predict or of a good outcome was occupation. Nonlaborers were more likely to h ave good outcome (21 of 32, 66%) when compared with laborers (5 of 22, 23%; P = 0.0025). Only 6 of 20 (30%) laborers were able to return to their original occupation compared with 17 of 26 (65%) nonlaborers (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Laborers with NTOS are less likely to have a go od result from surgical intervention, are unlikely to return to their original occupation, and may require retraining for a non-labor-intens ive occupation if they cannot return to their original work. Am J Surg . 1998;176:215-218. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.