An evaluation of the pain characteristics of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

BackgroundPain is the most common symptom in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).ObjectiveThis study was conducted to determine the characteristics of pain in patients with TOS.Methods66 patients (59 female, 7 male) participated in this cross-sectional study. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and pain intensity were evaluated. Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) were used. Mann-Whitney U and Spearman tests were used for statistical analyzes.ResultsA significant positive correlation was observed between symptom duration (6.42 ± 5.33 years) and both CSI (r = 0.261,p = 0.034) and TSK (r = 0.271,p = 0.028). Centrally sensitized patients were found to have significantly worse kinesiophobia (p = 0.005), catastrophizing (p = 0.031) and alexithymia (p = 0.049). Patients with pain catastrophizing had higher kinesiophobia (p = 0.003). There was no difference in PPT in trapezius (p = 0.507) and infraspinatus (p = 0.690) muscles but there was a difference in the extensor carpi radialis (p = 0.009) and extensor indicis proprius (p = 0.002). Pain values were similar between patients who had undergone surgery and those who had not.ConclusionsThe findings of this investigation indicate that symptoms related to central sensitization in TOS are linked to chronic pain indicators, while catastrophizing is associated with kinesiophobia. Additionally, it was observed that a prolonged duration of symptoms in TOS intensifies the severity of central sensitization and kinesiophobia. The similarity in pain parameters between the surgical and non-surgical groups may reflect the effects of chronic pain due to prolonged symptom duration. These results suggest that TOS should not be perceived solely as a musculoskeletal issue.