Thoracic Outlet Syndrome causes pain, numbness, or swelling in the arms due to compression of the nerve, artery, or vein of either arm by the first rib. This often develops in patients who are athletes, who exercise, or just use their arm at work.
The most effective treatment is removing the first rib. Few surgeons perform this procedure—I have completed over 250.
Recently techniques have been developed to perform the procedure robotically.
This allows better division of adhesions, especially around the vein.
I have performed one of the first robotic rib resections done in Florida. This is a difficult problem, and we will take good care of you.
