Dr Stoxen's Introduction

I’m going to talk today about conservative management of thoracic outlet syndrome. It’s a very controversial subject. I’m going to talk about sports trauma and postural epidemiology. We’re going to bring up some information that I hope that when we get done today you will be able to take what you learned back to your practice and help your patients. My office is in Chicago and the name of the practice is Team Doctors Treatment Centers.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a very controversial subject. In fact a lot of doctors don’t think it exists. Thoracic outlet syndrome is the most difficult neurovascular compression syndrome of the extremities to manage and that is because it has a variability of complaints. It also has a difficulty in the patient compliance in the treatment and reduction of the causative factors

History of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

First of all, this problem is not a new problem. Galen who made the first mention of the cervical rib first mentioned it in the 2nd century AD. In 1910 Murphy gave mention of the effectiveness of the first rib resection. In 1927, Adson brought up the scalenectomy without cervical rib resection. In 1956 Deete coined the term Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

How prevalent is TOS

I think that thoracic outlet syndrome is a lot more prevalent than we think. It’s based upon poor sleeping habits and posture. Postural correction is critical to the management of this thoracic outlet syndrome as I mentioned. The patient compliance is critical in eliminating causative factors. You have to be a nag. You have to constantly ask that patient. Are you sure you’re not watching television in the bed. Are you reading in the bed? Because if you don’t they will do it. They don’t think it’s important because you’re not saying anything about it, maybe only in passing. It needs to be stressed to them. So what we’re going to do is apply the appropriate treatment to correct this actual problem. Pain management can be seen with medication. That’s optional. We don’t use any medication in our office. No anti-inflammatories or painkillers are recommended and our patients seem to do just fine.

Experience helps

Team Doctors Chiropractic Treatment and Training Centers has been around for about 57 years. It has been a practice in our family for many years. Since 1986 we have had over 30,000 new patients. From 1992 – 2004 we have had approximately 4,000 new patients with some form of peripheral nerve symptoms originating either in the neck or lower back.

Statistically, we have numerous cases of thoracic outlet syndrome. We have had a great amount of experience in working with patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Thank you to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine!

I want to thank everybody for coming out to the presentation. I want to thank the American Academy of Anti-Aging for inviting me to this international conference. Thank you to Dr. Robert Goldman and Dr. Ron Klatz for inviting me. If you are interested in attending any other presentations I will be giving please attend the Anti-Aging Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, February 24th 2005 Anti-Aging Conference at the Royal College of Physicians in London England May 10, 2005, the Asian-Pacific Anti-Aging Conference in Bali, Indonesia on September 27th, 2005.

Chapter I Dr Stoxen's Introduction Read it here...

Chapter II Anatomy of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Read it here...

Chapter III Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Controversy Read it here...

Chapter IV History or Patient Presentation Read it here...

Chapter V Physical Examination Findings Read it here...

Chapter VI Diagnostic Tests for TOS Read it here...

Chapter VII Treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Read it here...

Chapter IX Case Histories of Patients with TOS

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