Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a consequence of many occupational injuries and automobile accidents. It can steal your ability to work, groom, or participate in hobbies you once loved because it takes away your ability to use your arm, hand, and fingers for reaching, grasping, and holding. In addition, thoracic outlet syndrome may cause chronic pain, numbness, and tingling that result in depression, anxiety, and reduced mental capacity.
Unfortunately, thoracic outlet syndrome is a poorly understood medical diagnosis.
Though TOS is becoming better recognized and defined in the medical community, the general public’s lack of familiarity with the condition may affect the settlement value of your thoracic outlet syndrome case. Indeed, we have spoken with numerous workers comp adjusters who do not have a firm grasp of TOC and the treatment and disability it can lead to.
This article explains thoracic outlet syndrome and what factors to consider when negotiating a TOS settlement in a car accident or workers compensation case. Understanding TOS and the evidence you need to win will go a long way in being made whole.
Keep reading to learn more.
Contact us today if you have questions about workers compensation or personal injury law. We help injured employees and victims of others’ negligence in Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and the mid-Atlantic.
The thoracic outlet is an area in the upper chest formed by the rib cage, collarbone (clavicle), and neck muscles (the medial and lateral scalene muscles). In this region, a bundle of nerves (the brachial plexus) and the subclavian veins and arteries travel from the base of the neck to the arms.
Your doctor may diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome when trauma, repetitive arm movements, or some other medical condition compress the nerves, arteries, or veins in the thoracic outlet, causing pain and numbness in the arm, shoulder, or neck.
Other names and diagnoses given for thoracic outlet compression syndromes include the following:
Physicians divide thoracic outlet syndrome into neurogenic, venous, and arterial.
However, these categories continue to fall out of favor because your TOS may involve all three types. For example, a high-speed car crash or a crane accident on a construction site may compress multiple structures in the thoracic area.
Your symptoms and treatment will depend on which type(s) of TOS you have.
Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is the most common type of thoracic outlet syndrome. It accounts for more than 80 percent of TOS cases.
In neurogenic TOS, you have a compressed brachial plexus.
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that carry motor and sensory information between your spinal cord, brain, and the upper extremity (shoulder, arm, hand, and scapula).
Injury to the brachial plexus may lead to these symptoms:
Thoracic outlet syndrome resulting in a brachial plexus injury may cause lifelong pain due to nerve damage.
Venous TOS occurs when one or more veins under your collarbone are damaged.
One of the dangers of venous thoracic outlet syndrome is that it could lead to a blood clot. Specifically, you may develop effort thrombosis, a type of deep vein thrombosis that forms when overhead motions compress a vein in the thoracic region.
Symptoms of venous TOS include a change in color (for example, turning blue), swelling (edema), weak pulse, weakness, and pain in the affected arm or hand.
Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome refers to compression of the subclavian arteries, which lie underneath the clavicles and provide the blood supply to the arms, head, and neck. It is the least common type of TOS.
Symptoms of arterial TOS include:
TOS can arise in multiple contexts.
Therefore, insurance companies often challenge causation in car crash lawsuits and workers compensation cases claiming benefits and damages for thoracic outlet syndrome. The defendants may argue that something other than the motor vehicle crash or occupational injury caused the compression of the nerves and vascular structures in the thoracic outlet.
Potential causes of TOS include the following:
Physical trauma on the roads or at work can affect anyone and cause TOS.
However, three demographic groups are more likely to develop thoracic outlet syndrome:
Diagnosing TOS can be a challenging process because the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome are similar to other conditions. For example, an injury to the cervical spine, a torn rotator cuff, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), pectoralis minor syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or a syrinx may present with similar symptoms.
In addition, there is not a single clinical sign or test that can confirm thoracic outlet syndrome.
Therefore, the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome is often a diagnosis of exclusion.
The standard TOS evaluation includes:
Your treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome may involve multiple medical specialties, including:
Treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome depends on the type.
However, the goals remain the same: reduce pressure on the area and regain arm and hand function.
Depending on the clinical examinations and findings, your doctors and healthcare providers may offer the following TOS treatment:
You must monitor your posture to avoid recurrent or worsening problems after your symptoms resolve.
Poor posture aggravates thoracic outlet syndrome.
Yes.
Workers compensation covers thoracic outlet syndrome in two situations.
First, you are eligible for workers compensation benefits if you develop thoracic outlet syndrome due to a sudden, specific incident caused by a risk associated with your job.
Second, the insurer will have to cover medical treatment and pay benefits or a settlement if your initial work-related injury contributes to the development of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). For example, surgery for the injury may cause scar tissue and the development of TOS. If so, you have a valid workers compensation claim for thoracic outlet syndrome.
In our law firm’s experience, thoracic outlet syndrome settlements range from $25,000 to $100,000 in workers compensation and car accident cases. However, higher and lower amounts for brachial plexus injury or thoracic outlet syndrome are possible.
The reasonable range for resolving your TOS case depends on many factors, including:
Read these articles to learn more about factors affecting workers compensation payouts and auto accident settlements.
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Yes.
For thoracic outlet syndrome or brachial plexus injury that prevents you from returning to your pre-injury job, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Indeed, you may have a strong claim for disability for thoracic outlet syndrome if:
Learn more about applying for disability in Virginia here.
If you have suffered thoracic outlet syndrome or a brachial plexus injury in a car crash, truck accident, or work-related incident, call us at (804) 251-1620 or (757) 810-5614.
Our top-ranked personal injury lawyers have recovered fair compensation for many injured workers and accident victims diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.
See if we can help you.