ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2026
The human disharmony loop: high rates of return to work in intractable workers' compensation patients undergoing surgical release of the pectoralis minor with infraclavicular neurolysis.
Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesPatients suffering from Worker's Compensation (WC) injuries typically demonstrate poorer outcomes despite optimal surgical management. In the occupational setting, shoulder pathology is the most implicated musculoskeletal disease. We recently described the Human Disharmony Loop (HDL), a clinical model of chronic, historically intractable pain of the neck, upper back, shoulder, and arm (Sharma and Friedman in Clin Med 14(5):1769, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051769 ; Sharma et al. in J Clin Med 14(16):5650, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14165650 ; Friedman et al. in PLoS ONE 20(10):e0326815, 2025). Specifically, the asymmetric lower trunk innervation to the pectoralis minor (PM) can deform the scapula's numerous connections and derange the full anatomy of the upper limb girdle, often after trauma. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review our cohort of Workers' Compensation patients (WCP) who met HDL diagnostic criteria and underwent treatment consisting of pectoralis minor release with infraclavicular neurolysis (PM + ICN). We hypothesize that WCP evaluated and treated for the HDL would show decreased pain, increased shoulder function, and a high rate of return to work.
methodsThis is a retrospective study of consecutive WCP meeting HDL criteria treated via PM + ICN. 6-month follow-up minimum was required. Outcomes included self-reported pain and headaches, shoulder range of motion, presence of neuropathy on exam, and return to work (RTW).
results36 patients were included. Average age was 48, sex was 61% male. Median follow-up was 10 months. Median preoperative pain was 8/10, headache prevalence was 69%, shoulder abduction was 90 degrees. Following treatment, median postoperative pain was 3/10, headache prevalence was 14%, and shoulder abduction was 180 degrees. 86% of patients returned to work. 25% required secondary neurolysis of the axillary, radial, cubital, and/or median nerves for persistent neuropathy.
conclusionsIn WCP who meet HDL criteria, PM + ICN provides significant clinical improvement in terms of dramatic reductions in pain and high rates of RTW. WCP with refractory pain preventing RTW should be evaluated and treated for the HDL.
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