Table 2.

Stable Long-term Functional Outcomes after Decompression and Neurolysis of the Long Thoracic Nerve, and Scalene Muscle Resection in Patients with Long Thoracic Nerve Injury and Winging Scapula

Patient	Preoperative Arm Flexion (Degrees)	Preoperative Shoulder Abduction (Degrees)	Preoperative ESW*	Postoperative Flexion (Degrees)	Postoperative Shoulder Abduction (Degrees)	Postoperative ESW*	Surgical Outcomes
1	30	30	1	120	120	4	No contracture improved AROM.
2	180	180	1	180	180 after Botox 30	2	Improved significantly after surgery in strength and AROM. Winging appears decreased. Subjective weakness and guarding of the shoulder by patient’s report; happened after Botox injection.
3	90	90	1	180	180	3	Excellent AROM, Winging present but decreasing.
4	30	30	1	180	180	4	Normal AROM of both arms, no winging noted.
5	180	180	1	180	180	4	Excellent result of previous surgery. No current management issues or complaints.
6	90	90	1	180	180	4	Affected shoulder AROM was stable.
8	90	90	1	180	180	4	Normal AROM and ongoing close to perfect result of surgery.
8	90	90	2	180	180	4	Ongoing perfect result of surgery.
9	120	120	1	180	180	4	Overall stable shoulder strength, with some weakness noted in deltoid.
10	120	120	1	180	180	4	Continued improvement in winging and full AROM.
11	120	120	1	180	180	2	AROM and winging appear stable.
12	90	90	1	180	180	4	Stable and outstanding long-term result of the surgery.
13	30	90	2		30	2	Stable movements of affected upper extremity since the last evaluation: Flexion 90 degrees. Repeat surgery is possible if the patient wants to consider this.
14	120	120	1	180	180	2	Stable movement status, winging was still present.
15	180	180	2	180	180	4	Shoulder AROM was normal with no winging of the scapula.
Mean	104	108	1.2	165	158	3.5
STD	52	54	0.4	53	52	0.9
P				<0.02	<0.05	<0.01

LTNI, long thoracic nerve injury; AROM, active range of motion; Extent of the Scapular Winging (ESW): 4—Minimal/Normal, 3—Mild, 2—Moderate, and 1—Severe (Fig. 1).