Osteopathic treatment in a patient with left-ventricular assist device with left brachialgia: a case report

Abstract

Bruno Bordoni,1–3 Fabiola Marelli,2,3 Bruno Morabito,2–4 Beatrice Sacconi5 1Foundation Don Carlo Gnocchi IRCCS, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Hospitalization and Care with Scientific Address, Milan, 2CRESO, School of Osteopathic Centre for Research and Studies, Gorla Minore, 3CRESO, School of Osteopathic Centre for Research and Studies, Falconara Marittima, 4Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomopathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 5Center for Life Nano Science, CLNS@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy Abstract: This study deals with an osteopathic approach used for a patient with left-ventricular assist device (L-VAD) affected by left brachialgia. Clinical examination revealed the presence of thoracic outlet syndrome and pectoralis minor syndrome, with compression of the left proximal ulnar nerve, related to the surgical sternotomy performed. The osteopathic techniques used can be classified as indirect and direct, addressed to the pectoralis minor and the first left rib, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first text in literature with an osteopathic treatment in a patient with L-VAD. Keywords: osteopathic, L-VAD, thoracic outlet syndrome, TOS, myofascial, fascia

Keywords

• Osteopathic
• Left-ventricular assistance device
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Myofascial release