You are obviously concerned about whether your surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome will be a success. The nurse sees this and says “Don’t worry because our doctors have 90% “success” for thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. You are received. To you, a success may be “pain free”. Thats not what the doctors authoring the research determine “success”.
Not so…
One study reported the results of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on 254 patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (N-TOS). The follow-up post surgery analysis initially reported an 86.6% “success rate” after 2 months. You should be relieved and confident.
However after 18 months the success rate fell to 46.9% and after 72 months ended up at 36%. (1)
Eighty of those whos first surgery was a failure were recommended a second surgery to see if that would improve their suffering. After a second surgery only 45 of the 80 patients said they had results that were considered a “success”. (1)
The researchers considered a 50% improvement to be a success. (1) Would you consider a 50% improvement a success? Also this study determined after 72 months, 64% of the patients that had the surgery did not improve by 50%.
One study determined 90% of their surgeries were a success. (2)
The way they determined success was by asking their patients to fill out a questioner which asked them to grade their perception of pain relief. The procedure was considered a success if the patient reported an excellent, good or fair result. (3)
This could range from 66.7% reporting excellent to good results which meant either complete relief of symptoms to relief of most major symptoms. Those patients who reported to a relief of some symptoms but persistence (no relief) of other symptoms were 22%. (2)
Based on what the hospital determines is a “success” is for surgery they determined the surgeries were 90% successful. (2)
Would you consider a relief of some symptoms but persistence (no relief) of other symptoms to be a success?
So if you are walking back to see the surgeon and the nurse says, “Don’t worry, our doctors have a 90% success rate for surgery for thoracic outlet surgery you might want to ask them by what criterion they determined a successful surgery.
This is an excerpt from a chapter in Dr Stoxen’s #1 best seller The Human Spring Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The book is available on Amazon.com in these 13 counties US UK DE FR ES IT NL JP BR CA MX AU IN on Kindle. The book is available on Amazon.com in these 7 counties US UK DE FR ES IT JP in paperback.
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(1) Altobelli GG1, Kudo T, Haas BT, Chandra FA, Moy JL, Ahn SS. Thoracic outlet syndrome: pattern of clinical success after operative decompression. J Vasc Surg. 2005 Jul;42(1):122-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16012461
(2) Bhattacharya V1, Hansrani M, Wyatt MG, Lambert D, Jones NA. Outcome following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2003 Aug;26(2):170-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12917833 FREE PDF: http://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884(02)91891-5/pdf
(3) Sanders RJ1, Pearce WH. The treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome: a comparison of different operations. J Vasc Surg. 1989 Dec;10(6):626-34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2585651
Dr James Stoxen DC., FSSEMM (hon) He is the president of Team Doctors®, Treatment and Training Center Chicago, one of the most recognized treatment centers in the world.
Dr Stoxen is a #1 International Bestselling Author of the book, The Human Spring Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He has lectured at more than 20 medical conferences on his Human Spring Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and asked to publish his research on this approach to treating thoracic outlet syndrome in over 30 peer review medical journals.
He has been asked to submit his other research on the human spring approach to treatment, training and prevention in over 150 peer review medical journals. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Orthopedic Science and Research, Executive Editor or the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care, Chief Editor, Advances in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Journal and editorial board for over 35 peer review medical journals.
He is a much sought-after speaker. He has given over 1000 live presentations and lectured at over 70 medical conferences to over 50,000 doctors in more than 20 countries. He has been invited to speak at over 300 medical conferences which includes invitations as the keynote speaker at over 50 medical conferences.
After his groundbreaking lecture on the Integrated Spring-Mass Model at the World Congress of Sports and Exercise Medicine he was presented with an Honorary Fellowship Award by a member of the royal family, the Sultan of Pahang, for his distinguished research and contributions to the advancement of Sports and Exercise Medicine on an International level. He was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Personal Trainers Hall of Fame in 2012.
Dr Stoxen has a big reputation in the entertainment industry working as a doctor for over 150 tours of elite entertainers, caring for over 1000 top celebrity entertainers and their handlers. Anthony Field or the popular children’s entertainment group, The Wiggles, wrote a book, How I Got My Wiggle Back detailing his struggles with chronic pain and clinical depression he struggled with for years. Dr Stoxen is proud to be able to assist him.
Full Bio) Dr Stoxen can be reached directly at teamdoctors@aol.com
