Objectives: We assessed the role of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Methods: Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded in provocative and decompressing positions in 30 patients (28 females, 2 males; mean age 32 years; range 20 to 52 years) with a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome and in 30 healthy subjects showing a similar age and sex distribution.
Results: All recordings yielded normal ranges in both groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the positions in which SEPs were recorded and between the patient and control groups.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that SEPs do not give diagnostic information in the identification of thoracic outlet syndrome.