[Nerve compression in the lateral neck triangle].

Among the compression neuropathies associated with the lateral cervical neck region the thoracic outlet syndrome has received special attention during the last decades. In resistant cases, the transaxillary decompression of the neurovascular bundle according to Roos proved to be very successful for us. Since 1982, a total of 185 procedures of this kind were performed with the following results: excellent and good 76%, fair 16%, and not successful 8%.--As the symptoms of Sudeck's dystrophy resemble the clinical findings of a severe thoracic outlet and inlet syndrome, a transaxillary decompression together with sympathectomy was performed in nine resistant dystrophies as well. Thus, in seven patients an excellent result was obtained, and a good and a fair result in one case each. According to our findings, the individual predisposition for Sudeck's dystrophy is based on an impairment of the venous run-off due to a stenosis of the subclavian vein with simultaneous increase of sympathetic activity.