Originally Posted by SnappleofDiscord

Anyone have any insights, or history, of the pros and cons of Partial rib resection vs Total rib resection?

My Long, draw out fight with TOS and apathetic doctors seems to have reached another battle field.
I finally met with a vascular surgeon who agrees that there are some obvious, debilitating nerve issues and suggested rib resection. ... 2 surgeons actually.
After almost 2 years now of being put through the ringer of doctors passing me around (last doctor was Dr # 46) I made sure to have a back up surgeon scheduled in case I got passed off. They both panned out, and have different surgical approaches, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one I should go with.

(Brief history, super active climber and kayaker living on the road, also did stage work for years holding 100+lbs over my head for hours a day. Dislocated my arm in a kayaking wreck, resulting in a long thoracic nerve and brachial plexus injury and a winged scapula like a shark fin. Was unable to get it treated, dislocation became chronic resulting in nerve issues which became so debilitating I could no longer care for myself and had to leave my home, and work, to move back in with my parents and be taken care of like a house pet. I can't drive, pull things, or remain sitting for long periods of time. Most days are spent in bed. Recent shoulder surgery to correct chronic dislocation has failed to help continuing TOS disability)

Dr Sohaila Ali (In Westminster, MD) is doc #1. She's a very compassionate, and thorough doctor. She plan on a surgery of trans-axillary rib resection, only taking out a small part of the rib, and then cleaning up any scar tissue, fibrous bands, and carve out the scalenes to remove the compression.
She was actually recommended to me by her vascular technician, Ms Rikki, who spoke very highly of her and how personalized her surgeries were. Dr Ali apparently started her own practice after becoming fed up with the "Cookie cutter" approach her colleagues took to surgery. Mr Rikki did the ultrasound and dopplar testing on me, and did the Unthinkable as she altered her testing positions to include the ones I specifically said caused me the most issues. It was my 2nd dopplar, and this one found that I had significant venous compression, as well as some arterial, and of course my clavicle smashing my nerves.
Dr Ali took days after my test results to read them over, and familiarize herself with my case before deciding if she could help me. She also explained the entire surgery in great detail. She said that with the partial rib resection, I would have my arm immobilized for 2 weeks, and could probably never go back to kayaking or over head sports like climbing again because of the risk of re-injuring my nerves on the remaining pieces of my rib...

Dr Reifsnyder at Johns Hopkins is doc #2. He only had my thick stack of medical notes, negative MRI's, EMG's, etcetcetc.. and of course me writhing around trying to hold my head up, sit up straight, and breath at the same time. He said he didn't need any further testing, as far as he was concerned I'd tried everything else, and cavalierly suggested he cut the rib out and see if it helped. I spectacularly failed a few positional tests, unable to even hold my arms out straight, and he told me I should get the surgery. His plan is a Total first rib resection, saying it's import to avoid recurrence or re injury by getting every piece of the rib out. My arm won't have restricted mobility, and the stay in the hospital afterwards is a day shorter. He sees no issue in me going back to sports or climbing as long as my shoulder agrees with me

Dr Reifsnyder, however, is from one of the institutions Dr Ali criticized (privately to her tech, not to me a patient) for performing THE surgery by the book rather than a personalized approached. Dr Ali also took the time to find and document the extent of my issues, where dozens of other docs have blown me off.. However, her surgical method leaves room for the symptoms to come back, and will have a serious impact on the active, rough and tumble life I'm used to. (She said I'm a petite girl, I'm just not made for sports. I think most of central Asia may disagree). I've looked up the medical articles on the benefits of total resection over partial.. but they were all at least co-written by Dr Reifsnyder.

WHEW! Long winded.. But any ideas? Suggestions? Anyone have to go back for a round 2 of rib resections to clean up remaining pieces of ribs? Anyone actually get the full rib resection?

Thanks!