Paget-Schroetter Syndrome

A Review of Effort Thrombosis of the Upper Extremity From a Sports Medicine Perspective

Mall, Nathan A. MD
Van Thiel, Geoffrey S. MD, MBA
Heard, Wendell M. MD
Paletta, George A. MD
Bush-Joseph, Charles MD
Bach, Bernard R. Jr MD

^†Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
^‡Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
^§Orthopedic Center of St Louis, St Louis, Missouri

Bernard R. Bach Jr, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, 1611 West Harrison Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60612 (e-mail: [email protected]).

Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 5(4):p 353-356, July/August 2013. | DOI: 10.1177/1941738112470911

Paget-Schroetter is a rare diagnosis in the general population; however, it is more common in younger, physically active individuals. Clinicians must be familiar with the symptoms, physical examination, and initial imaging and treatment to expedite care and prevent possible life-threatening complications. Urgent referral to a regional specialist may improve the opportunity for thrombolysis to restore blood flow through the subclavian vein and to decrease the chance of pulmonary embolus, recurrent thrombosis, or need for vein grafting, as well as to improve the time to return to full activity (athletics and/or manual labor).