Best Surgeons for TOS
 

Hello fellow sufferers,

I am looking for opinions on which surgeons you recommend (and why)? I've mostly been focusing on Pearl, Thompson, Lum, and Donahue.

I see that Pearl and Thompson both report on many professional athletes they have treated successfully.

However, I cannot find lists of professional athletes that have had surgery done by other docs; Donahue, Lum, etc.

First, have I missed the list somewhere?

Second, if these two docs are where the professional athletes are recommended to go by their many handlers, is it because they have done their research and these docs are the best?

Many thanks for your replies,

Jaime

Top athletes & team management want the best they can find , since career & team success depends on best outcomes..
Here is one of our sticky threads for DRs , but I think you have current good ones on your list.
This list was started in 2006, so some may be retired or such..-
http://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-ou...o-threads.html

Nerve or Vascular TOS will make a difference on outcomes also..

Thoracic Outlet Doctors
 

Thompson in St. Louis; Freischlag at UC Davis; Sanders and his partner Annest in Denver; Karl Illig in Tampa; Pearl in Dallas and Donahue in Boston are all top doctors.

You first need to decide if you want a transaxillary or supraclavicular procedure which have different benefits/drawbacks. Both procedures apparently have similar success rates. Sanders and Annest do a combination of the two and are using a new material called AMNION (made from human placenta) to wrap the nerve tissue and prevent post-surgical scarring. This method is showing great promise...

I am making my decision on which surgeon to use as well and would welcome input on the best doctors.

Which surgeons are highly sought after by professional athletes
 

That is good feedback. I don't know what type of approach I need, and I had not heard of wrapping the nerves.

Please share appropriate links to help this newbie learn.

Also, thank you for the reference to the 2006 list. It seems so much has changed in 10 years, and of course technology has changed, I'd like to help create a new list for new users.

Regarding athletes and surgeons, "Top athletes & team management want the best they can find , since career & team success depends on best outcomes..."

Exactly... I can only find that Thompson and Pearl have done lists of athletes--- is anyone aware of other surgeons being so highly sought after?

NTOS Doctors/Surgeons Recommendations
 

Neurogenic TOS is my main treatment focus.

RE:"Top athletes & team management want the best they can find , since career & team success depends on best outcomes..."

I certainly want the best I can find, is anyone aware of lists of athletes other surgeons have treated?

Which docs have the TOS sufferers in this forum found to be the best and had the best outcomes and experiences with?

Use the search tool with each drs name, that will bring up past post/threads they are mentioned in, then you may find members experiences.

Lots of past info on surgeries and outcomes..

If you want to share your symptoms & avg pain level, we might be able to suggest more options.
Also what testing you have had , if anything specific showed as related to symptoms.. Like extra cervical rib, bony anomalies.

For overall TOS education all our sticky threads at the top of the TOS main page are suggested reading..

Donahue
 

I was a professional road cyclist and had TOS surgery - 1st rib removal- for a venous and neurogenic compression caused by aggressive riding style. My surgery was in 2011. I consulted with three other surgeons before Donahue and he was hands down the right choice for me. He shared with me that he also has performed the surgery on professional baseball players.

Thompson has done the largest number of major league pitchers by far. He just wrote a paper on outcomes for the superstars he has worked on and almost all have returned to the mound - some with more success than others. Pearl has done a few pitchers. One I heard was unsuccessful but he is still a top doc. Dr Illig in Tampa has done a number of professional hockey players. I think this is important information for repetitive stress TOS. Not sure how it translates if the problem began with a traumatic injury. If you want to stay up to date on professional athletes an TOS just google TOS and look under the "news" tab.

Good Luck!

Hi, can you share how you are feeling now, so many years after? Have you developed any other symptoms after your surgery? Any shifts in the body after a rib resection? Any issues with your neck/arm/etc years after due to the surgery?
Thank you.