An Uncommon Culprit: Trapezius Dystonia as a Cause of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Case Report

Authors

Jamie Philp
Won Jae Jeong
Paul Paily

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Journal

Cureus

DOI

10.7759/cureus.63825

PMID

39099970

PMCID

PMC11297692

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-4-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

: trapezius hypertrophy, botulinum toxin injection, trapezius tightness, thoracic outlet syndrome, neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome

Abstract

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) results from compression of the neurovascular bundle in the thoracic outlet. Several etiologies can contribute to the development of thoracic outlet syndrome, including both congenital and acquired causes. Historically, trapezius pathology has not been considered a cause of TOS; however, here we report a patient with neurogenic TOS plus ipsilateral trapezius hypertonicity and hypertrophy who had significant symptomatic improvement following botulinum toxin injections to trapezius.