Q: Can you explain thoracic outlet syndrome and whether a vascular surgeon would be the one to treat this condition?
A: Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. It can cause numbness, weakness, swelling or pain in the shoulders and neck and numbness in the fingers, especially when elevating the arms.
There are three types of thoracic outlet syndrome: arterial (the most rare), venous and neurogenic (the most common).
A vascular surgeon would absolutely treat this condition. Diagnosis is made through a variety of tests. Treatment ranges from physical therapy to more-invasive surgical therapies.
William Harris, M.D., is a vascular surgeon at Vascular Institute of Chattanooga and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.