▲ Professor Yong-Hee Kim is performing a robot-assisted surgery

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition where nerves, arteries, or veins leading to one’s arms are compressed by the first rib. It causes pain, numbness, swelling, and in severe cases, muscle atrophy in fingers. Often misdiagnosed as a cervical disc disease or shoulder disorder, accurate diagnosis and treatment are delayed frequently.

Professor Yong-Hee Kim and Fellow In Ha Kim of the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center conducted a comparative study of conventional supraclavicular incision and robot-assisted surgery for treating thoracic outlet syndrome. While both surgeries were effective in alleviating symptoms, robot-assisted surgery showed advantages in relieving pain and decreasing recovery time for patients.

▲ Professor Yong-Hee Kim and Fellow In Ha Kim of the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery

Thoracic outlet syndrome is divided into neurogenic, arterial, or venous, depending on the compressed structures, with neurogenic accounting for more than 90% of cases. While injections and rehabilitation treatments can provide symptom relief, the most definitive treatment is the resection of the first rib. In 2022, Asan Medical Center introduced robot-assited surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome to minimize nearby nerve and vascular damage.

Professor Kim’s team analyzed the surgical outcomes of 23 patients treated for thoracic outlet syndrome from 2005 to 2024. Among them, 13 patients underwent robot-assisted surgery, and 10 underwent conventional surgery. About 90% of all the patients experienced significantly improved symptoms after surgery, and the robot-assisted surgery group reported less pain and shorter hospitalization. Notably, patients engaged in occupations that require extensive hand use were able to return to daily life quickly and showed high satisfaction.

The study findings were presented at the 56th Scientific Meeting of the Korean Society for Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery.