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Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) constitutes less than 1%, involving the second part of the subclavian artery (SCA). It can present as an acute upper limb ischemia or aneurysm formation. Here is a case of a 29-year-old male presented with complaints of rest pain over the left hand for the past 2 weeks. Upon evalution, found to have bilateral cervical rib with left subclavian artery occlusion. Treated by cervical rib excision decompression of scalene triangle, subclavian endarterectomy and left brachial embolectomy. Arterial TOS secondary to the cervical rib is rare; pathology involving this external compression results in repeated trauma in the intima of the SCA, resulting in subclavian stenosis, poststenotic dilatation, thrombosis, and aneurysm formation with mural thrombus and distal embolization. Symptomatic cases need decompression +/- arterial repair.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by compression of the neurovascular structures within the thoracic outlet leading to a collection of symptoms in the upper limb and shoulder. Identification of the causative factor is essential and thorough clinical examination using specific manoeuvres can aid in the diagnosis of this syndrome. Cervical rib is one of the causes for thoracic outlet syndrome and this manuscript will discuss the thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical rib, incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management including surgical approaches with a focus on transcervical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is an infrequent condition which results in disability in use of upper extremity. While TOS is often associated with manual labor, industrial workers, and accidents, it has not been reported in a physician (MD) population. Given the investment of time and effort in training to become a MD, the impact of TOS may be devastating. Our objective is to report the presentation and outcome of TOS in MDs.MethodsA prospectively surgical database was reviewed for MDs who sought care of disabling TOS between 1997 and 2022. Demographic, clinical, outcome and pathological data were reviewed. Outcomes were assessed based on Somatic Pain Scale (SPS), Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and Derkash scores. Results were also assessed based on return to employment.ResultsA total of 19 MDs were identified, from 1,687 TOS cases. The group included 13 (63%) men, 6 (31%) women, average age 45 years (range 27-57). Presentations included 1 (5.3%) arterial TOS (ATOS), 9 (47.4%) venous TOS (VTOS), and 9 (47.4) neurogenic TOS (NTOS). All patients were right-handed, and symptomatic side was dominant hand in 7 (37%) patients. Etiologies included repetitive motion injury, athletic injury, and congenital bony abnormalities. Repetitive motion was associated with 3/9 (33%) NTOS. Significant athletic activities were noted in 12 of 19 (63%) MDs, including 8/9 (89%) VTOS and 4/9 (44%) NTOS. Athletic activities associated with VTOS included triathletes (2), rock climbing (1), long distance swimming (2), and weightlifting (3). Of the 9 NTOS cases, 3 were associated with weightlifting and 1 with skiing. Congenital causes included 1 (5%) abnormal first rib and 1 (5%) cervical rib. Time from symptom onset to consultation varied significantly according to diagnosis: ATOS 6 days, VTOS 97 days, and NTOS 2,335 days (P

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This study aimed to assess both nonsurgical and operative treatment outcomes of pediatric and young adult patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with TOS, who were seen between January 2010 and August 2022 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital, was conducted. Collected pre- and postoperative data included symptoms, provocative testing (ie, Roo's, Wright's, and Adson's tests), participation in sports or upper-extremity activities, additional operations, and surgical complications. Assessment of operative treatment efficacy was based on pre- and post-provocative testing, pain, venogram results, alleviation of symptoms, and return to previous activity level 6 months after surgery. Ninety-six patients, (70 females and 26 males) with an average age at onset of 15 ± 4 (4–25) years, met the inclusion criteria for TOS. Among them, 27 had neurogenic TOS, 29 had neurogenic and vasculogenic TOS, 20 had vasculogenic TOS, 19 had Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, and one was asymptomatic. Twenty-six patients were excluded because of less than 6 months of follow-up. Of the remaining 70, 6 (8.6%) patients (4 bilateral and 2 unilateral) underwent nonoperative management with activity modification and physical therapy only, and one was fully discharged because of complete relief of symptoms. Sixty-four (90.1%) patients (45 bilateral and 19 unilateral) underwent surgery. A total of 102 operations were performed. Substantial improvements were observed in provocative maneuvers after surgery. Before surgery, 79.7% were involved in sports or playing musical instruments with repetitive overhead activity, and after surgery, 86.2% of these patients returned to their previous activity level. Few patients were successfully managed with nonoperative activity modification and physical therapy. In those requiring surgical intervention, first or cervical rib resection with scalenectomy using a supraclavicular approach provided resolution of symptoms with 86.2% of patients being able to return to presymptom sport or activity level. Therapeutic IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many lesions that cause compression of nerves and vessels in the head and neck, and they can often be overlooked in the absence of adequate history or if not suspected by the radiologist. Many of these lesions require a high index of suspicion and optimal positioning for imaging. While a multimodality approach is critical in the evaluation of compressive lesions, an MRI utilizing high-resolution (heavily weighted) T2-weighted sequence is extremely useful as a starting point. In this review, we aim to discuss the radiological features of the common and uncommon compressive lesions of the head and neck which are broadly categorized into vascular, osseous, and miscellaneous etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a condition in which anatomic abnormalities in the thoracic outlet cause compression of the subclavian or, less commonly, axillary artery. Patients are usually younger and typically have an anatomic abnormality causing the compression. The condition usually goes undiagnosed until patients present with signs of acute or chronic hand or arm ischemia. Workup of this condition includes a thorough history and physical examination; chest x-ray to identify potential anatomic abnormalities; and arterial imaging, such as computed tomographic angiography or duplex to identify arterial abnormalities. Patients will usually require operative intervention, given their symptomatic presentation. Intervention should always include decompression of the thoracic outlet with at least a first-rib resection and any other structures causing external compression. If the artery is identified to have intimal damage, mural thrombus, or is aneurysmal, then arterial reconstruction is warranted. Stenting should be avoided due to external compression. In patients with symptoms of embolization, a combination of embolectomy, lytic catheter placement, and/or therapeutic anticoagulation should be done. Typically, patients have excellent outcomes, with resolution of symptoms and high patency of the bypass graft, although patients with distal embolization may require finger amputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical decompression of the thoracic outlet, along with treatment of the involved nerve or vessel, is the accepted treatment modality when indicated. Although neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is often operated via the axillary approach and venous TOS via the paraclavicular approach, arterial TOS is almost always operated via the supraclavicular approach. The supraclavicular approach provides excellent access to the artery, brachial plexus, phrenic nerve, and the cervical and/or first ribs, along with any bony or fibrous or muscular abnormality that may be causing compression of the neurovascular structures. Even for neurogenic TOS, for which the axillary approach offers good cosmesis, the supraclavicular approach helps with adequate decompression while preserving the first rib. This approach may also be sufficient for thin patients with venous TOS. For arterial TOS, a supraclavicular incision usually suffices for excision of bony abnormality and repair of the subclavian artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design: Retrospective Study. Objective: This study aims to investigate variation in the number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) and the prevalence of cervical ribs among surgical patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of background data: Due to variation in the number of thoracic or lumbar vertebrae, inaccurate identification of vertebral levels has been found to be a contributory factor to wrong-level surgery. Methods: This was a retrospective study on AIS patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion. Demographic and anthropometric data (age, gender, height, weight, and body mass index), radiographic data (Lenke curve type, pre-operative Cobb angle, vertebra numbering of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, presence of LSTV based on the Castellvi classification and the presence of cervical ribs) and clinical data were collected. Data were analysed and reported with mean and standard deviation for quantitative parameters and number and percentage for qualitative parameters. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: A total of 998 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 135 (13.5%) were males and 863 (86.5%) were females. The vertebrae number varied between 23 to 25 total vertebrae with 24 vertebrae considered as the typical number of vertebrae. The prevalence of atypical number of vertebrae (23 or 25) was 9.8% (98 patients). We found a total of 7 different variations in number of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae (7C11T5L, 7C12T4L, 7C11T6L, 7C12T5L, 7C13T4L, 7C12T6L, and 7C13T5L) with 7C12T5L considered as the typical vertebrae variation. The total prevalence of patients with atypical vertebrae variation was 15.5% (155 patients). Cervical ribs were found in 2 (0.2%) patients while LSTV were found in 250 (25.1%) of patients. The odds of 13 thoracic vertebrae were higher in males (OR 5.17; 95% CI: 1.25, 21.39) and the odds of 6 lumbar vertebrae were higher in LSTV (OR 3.93; 95% CI: 2.58, 6.00). Conclusion: In this series, we identified a total of 7 different variations in the number of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae. The total prevalence of patients with atypical vertebrae variation was 15.5%. LSTV was found in 25.1% of the cohort. It is important to ascertain atypical vertebrae variations rather than the absolute number of vertebrae because variants such as 7C11T6L and 7C13T4L may still have typical numbers of vertebrae in total. However, due to the differences in the number of morphologically thoracic and lumbar vetrebrae, there may still be a risk of inaccurate identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmanubrial musculoskeletal sparing approach (TMA) is commonly used for resecting apical lung tumours with vascular involvement. Non-neoplastic conditions which might require surgical exploration of the thoracic outlet include the 'cervical rib', a clinical condition consisting of an additional rib forming above the first rib and growing from the base of the neck just above the clavicle. Type 1 cervical rib—when a complete cervical rib articulates with the first rib or manubrium of the sternum—is the most challenging scenario where the subclavian artery can be damaged by continuous compression due to the narrow space between clavicle, first rib and supernumerary cervical rib, requiring prosthetic reconstruction of the involved tract. Here, we describe a modified TMA in which the incision in the neck is conducted posteriorly to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, thus allowing safe dissection of the superior and middle trunk of the brachial plexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: A cervical rib clinically manifests as a hard supraclavicular lump, which may initially suggest malignancy. The objective of the present work is to illustrate its presentation, to make the suspicion and diagnosis of it easier and thereby offering the patient a benign diagnosis. Method: We present three clinical cases of cervical rib seen in the ENT service of our hospital. Discussion: Information from the clinical interview and physical exam along with a simple thorax radiography should be sufficient to distinguish this entity from a malignant process. Conclusions: In the differential diagnosis of a hard supraclavicular mass, we should consider the possibility of a cervical rib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: Discovering a hard supraclavicular mass is a worrisome finding because it usually implies an underlying malignancy. The objective of this work is to illustrate the clinical presentation and characteristics of a cervical rib, because as unusual as this entity may be, suspecting of it offers an immediate diagnosis, avoids unnecessary explorations and presents a benign diagnosis to the patient. Method: A systematic review about the differential diagnosis of hard supraclavicular masses is carried out by two independent revisers using five different academic search engines. Results: From the 96 articles found in the initial search, 14 that matched the inclusion criteria were chosen. The approach of these selected articles was the differential diagnosis of a cervical rib in patients with a hard supraclavicular mass. Discussion: Soliciting complimentary tests delays a diagnosis that can be easily made through a simple thorax radiography, saving the patient from the distress of tortuous pathway. Conclusions: The differential diagnosis of a hard supraclavicular mass should include the possibility of a cervical rib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute upper limb ischemia accounts for less than 5% of all cases of limb ischemia. The etiology in young individuals are usually traumatic. Other non-traumatic causes are rarely seen and here we present two such cases in young, presenting with acute upper limb ischemia. The choice between a surgical or a minimally invasive endovascular approach remains unclear. Endovascular approach to management, although based on expertise, offers good post procedural outcome, comparable to post-surgical outcomes. Here we present two cases of thrombotic occlusion of the upper extremity following trauma and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome respectively managed successfully with endovascular approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The cervical ribs are the supernumerary ribs that are often associated with neuro-vascular symptoms in thoracic outlet syndromes. The objective of the study is to find the prevalence of cervical ribs among the patients visiting the Radiodiagnosis department of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study comprising 1533 chest and cervical spine radiographs of patients visiting the Radiodiagnosis department of a tertiary care hospital from March to June 2021. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee at the College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (Reference Number: COMSTH-IRC/2021-63). The presence or absence of a cervical rib was noted in the digital x-rays. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Results: The prevalence of cervical ribs was 1.5%, with males and females accounting for 0.85% and 0.65% respectively. Amongst the cases with cervical ribs, the unilateral (73.91%) cervical rib was significantly more than bilateral (26.01%) occurring more frequently on the left side. The cervical rib was found to be more predominant in males than in females without significant difference. Sexual dimorphism was not found to be significantly associated with laterality and sidedness of cervical ribs. Conclusions: The cervical ribs were commonly encountered in our study. As the presence of the cervical rib is one of the leading causes of thoracic outlet syndromes, clinicians should not overlook the existence of cervical ribs while ruling out the etiology of thoracic outlet syndromes.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to review the clinical presentations, surgical management, and outcome of surgical procedures for arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Methodology: This is a retrospective analysis of arterial TOS patients admitted in our department (Institute of Vascular Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai) from August 2012 to July 2022. Results: This study enrolled 81 patients, with mean age of 41.13 (12-65 years) and 50.61% male (41) and 49.39% female (40), associated with distal arterial lesions - 63 (77.77%), among which 50.61% - occlusion in the brachial artery (33), 24.69% in forearm arteries (15), and 24.69% in the axillary artery (15). About 95.06% of patients had cervical rib (77), 2.46% - first rib abnormality (2), 2.46% - soft-tissue compression (2), 59.25% was SCHER Stage III (48), 33.33% SCHER stage I (27), and 7.40% SCHER stage II (6). All patients had undergone a supraclavicular approach. The most common arterial lesions were subclavian artery (SCA) thrombus in 53.08% (43), occlusion in 17.28% (14), and dilatation in 29.62% (24) cases. The cervical rib excision with anterior scalenectomy in 95.06% (77), and 1st rib excision with anterior scalenectomy 2.46% (2) and soft tissue resection with anterior scalenectomy 2.46% (2) of patients. SCA intervention/reconstruction was done in 88.88% (72) of cases. Two patients had underwent above elbow amputation (2.46%) and no mortality and SCA patency was 100%. Conclusion: Cervical rib excision with anterior scalenectomy with or without thrombectomy is an effective procedure for arterial TOS cases.

Thoracic outlet syndrome commonly presents with the neurogenic subtype and can be caused in rare circumstances by an anatomic abnormality such as a cervical rib, for which surgical excision is the mainstay of management. An inadequately excised first or cervical rib can result in recurrent symptoms. We have reported the case of a 30-year-old woman who had presented with symptoms of right recurrent arterial and neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. She underwent repeat right-sided first rib and cervical rib resection with brachial plexus neural lysis and right carotid–axillary bypass via a combined supraclavicular and infraclavicular approach. At 12 months of follow-up, improvement in her symptoms was noted.

Background: True neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TNTOS) is rare, and evaluation of surgical treatment is limited to a few studies in the literature. The purpose of this study is to present the results from a surgical series of 21 patients with TNTOS. Methods: Retrospective analysis on 21 patients diagnosed with TNTOS who underwent surgery. Demographic data and neurological status were characterized, and patients were classified in accordance with a pre-established scale for assessing the severity of hand impairment before and after surgery. Neuropathic pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional disability was quantified using the QuickDASH questionnaire. The results from before and after surgery were compared using the Wilcoxon test, and the significance level was taken to be 5%. Results: There was a significant difference in VAS values from before to after the operation (Wilcoxon test: p = 0.0001; r = 0.86). Most patients (90%) improved after surgery, and in 85% of these patients, the VAS improvement was greater than 50%. Improvement in hand function occurred in seven patients (33.3%), and in most of these cases (28.6%), this improvement was classified as mild. Most patients (93.3%) showed moderate to very severe functional disability at the end of the follow-up. Conclusion: After surgery, only one-third of the cases showed improvement in motor function and most patients had significant functional disability. However, the improvement regarding pain was significant. Surgery to control this symptom should be recommended, even in cases of late presentation and severe motor impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cervical ribs are the supernumerary ribs that usually arise from the seventh cervical vertebra. Ethnic and geographical variations in cervical ribs and elongated transverse processes have been reported. Therefore, we aimed to study the prevalence of cervical ribs and elongated transverse processes and morphometry of cervical ribs in Omani subjects using computed tomography (CT). Methods: A total of 1165 consecutive patients' CT scans of the cervical spine who had visited the tertiary care hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were included in the study. The CT scans were screened for cervical ribs and elongated C7 transverse processes. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the gender influence. Results: Cervical ribs were identified in 0.94% of patients with a male-to-female ratio of 0.37:1. Most cervical ribs were unilateral (54%). The elongated C7 transverse process was identified in 18.45% of patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.36:1. Female patients are more likely to have cervical ribs (effect size = 5.98, 95% CI = 1.58–22.6, p = 0.005) than male patients. In contrast, the elongated C7 transverse process is more frequent in males (effect size = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.34–2.47, p < 0.001). The length and width of the cervical ribs are presented. Conclusion: The prevalence of cervical ribs in Omani subjects is close to that of accepted prevalence worldwide. However, the elongated C7 transverse process prevalence is comparatively high and close to the Saudi population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The presence of additional cervical ribs is a rare and relatively unknown pathology. The brachial plexus is most often compressed. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is the one of discussed of mixed compression syndromes, due to diagnostic difficulties and the lack of evidence to resolve the effectiveness of surgical treatment over conservative treatment., Case Report: Presentation of the case of a 22-year-old female athlete with cervical ribs with neurogenic TOS symptoms and presentation of the rehabilitation model and its results. Functional diagnosis included TOS specific clinical tests performed before, immediately after the treatment and one month later. The range of motion (ROM) in the cervical spine, body posture, the pulse on the left and right radial artery, blood pressure on both upper limbs, as well as pain intensity were examined. Management included 8 therapeutic sessions using trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage and cervical rotational manipulations. The maximum muscle relaxation and pain relief (decrease of 3-5 points in VAS) occurred after 5 therapeutic sessions. The rotation and lateral flexion in the cervical spine was significantly improved - the active ROM increased 2,5 in rotation bilaterally and 3,5/4 cm (left/right) in lateral flexion and passive ROM increased 3,5/3 cm (left/right) in rotation and 3.5/4.5 cm (left/right) in lateral flexion. The joint play of the cervical segments was normalized and the result of costo-clavicular test for the right side and the brachial stretch test for the left side become negative while the change of blood pressure in both upper limbs after the therapy as well as after one month was marginal ( ± 1-4 mmHg)., Conclusion: Conservative treatment based on the therapy of trigger points, deep tissue massage and rotational manipulations of the cervical spine appears to be an effective form of management of TOS induced by additional cervical ribs. However, further studies on are required to determine the most effective treatment options in this condition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thoracic Outlet Syndromes (TOS) consists of a group of distinct pathologies arising from compression or impingement of structures at the thoracic outlet. The structures at risk are, from anterior to posterior, subclavian vein (venous — VTOS), subclavian artery (arterial — ATOS) and brachial plexus (neurogenic — NTOS). NTOS is the most common presentation, usually caused by compression of the brachial plexus at the scalene triangle or pectoralis minor space. Neurogenic compression syndromes at the carpal and cubital tunnels should be excluded. Management of NTOS is usually conservative, employing physiotherapy and postural exercises, but pain or muscle wasting may be indications for surgery. VTOS is caused by compression of the subclavian vein at the costoclavicular junction, resulting in venous thrombosis (Paget—Schroetter syndrome) often as a result of exercise in fit young muscular people or musicians. Positional swelling of the upper limb without thrombosis is termed McCleery's syndrome. In acute thrombosis, clot lysis, first rib excision and venoplasty may be indicated. ATOS occurs due to compression of the subclavian artery at the scalene triangle, often in association with an anomalous bony structure, such as cervical rib, causing post-stenotic aneurysmal dilation of the artery, thrombosis and distal embolization. Acute upper limb ischaemia necessitates urgent cervical rib excision and arterial reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical ribs are rare and usually asymptomatic. Occasionally, they can cause nerve impingements and compressive symptoms. In cervical ribs, osteomyelitis secondary to trauma is unheard of. We report such a case made more interesting by the familial presence of bilateral cervical ribs in two generations, indicating a familial origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives: The study aims to study the scalene tubercle and morphological features of the first rib with clinical importance. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty adult human dry first ribs of unknown sex were studied. The morphological features studied were scalene tubercle, vascular groove, oblique ridge, tubercle, and the head of the first rib. The obtained data were recorded and analyzed. Results: Scalene tubercle was absent in 13.75%, rudimentary in 23.33%, and hypertrophied in 1.67%. Of 240 first ribs, 1.25% was found with the attached cervical rib. The vascular groove was absent in 11.25%. Oblique ridge was absent in 5.83%. The head and tubercle were observed to be rudimentary in 16.67% and 12.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The findings of the present study will be useful for anatomists, anesthetists, forensic surgeons, and general surgeons for the identification of the first rib and management of anomalies related to the first rib.

Abstract Cervical ribs are rare and usually asymptomatic. Occasionally, they can cause nerve impingements and compressive symptoms. In cervical ribs, osteomyelitis secondary to trauma is unheard of. We report such a case made more interesting by the familial presence of bilateral cervical ribs in two generations, indicating a familial origin.

We report a case of a stroke and upper limb ischemia in a 27-year-old female secondary to a right cervical rib and retrograde thromboembolization. Follow-up showed complete patency of the vessels after thrombectomy and internal carotid artery stenting followed by transbrachial embolectomy performed with a cerebral protection device. The cervical rib was surgically removed to prevent additional events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Arterial compression at the thoracic outlet is rarely diagnosed before embolization occurs. Decompression, embolectomy, and resection of the subclavian artery and interposition graft repair is the most common method of treatment. This is a retrospective analysis of a single surgeon experience with subclavian artery repair without resection for arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Materials and Methods: Sixty limbs underwent surgery for arterial compression at the thoracic outlet in 57 patients over the last 29 years (1989–2018). There were 24 males and 33 females. The age group varied from 10 to 60 years. Thrombointimectomy and repair of the subclavian artery were done on 54 of the 57 symptomatic limbs. Three patients underwent prophylactic decompression of the thoracic outlet on the contralateral asymptomatic side. Results: Fifty-two patients had complete cervical rib, two had abnormal first rib, and three patients had fracture clavicle with nonunion. Fifteen patients presented with severe rest pain and pregangrenous changes in the finger tips. All the rest presented with ischemic changes of varying degrees in the upper limb. The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 to 300 days. All patients underwent decompression of the thoracic outlet in the form of scalenectomy and cervical rib or first rib resection. Thrombointimectomy and repair of the poststenotic dilatation without resorting to resection were done in 54 limbs. Only three patients required resection of the artery. One patient had end-to-end anastomosis and two others had interposition grafts. In addition, 43 patients had additional transbrachial embolectomy to clear the distal artery. Two patients had cervicodorsal sympathectomy. No patient underwent major amputation, but two patients required finger amputation. Palpable wrist pulse could be achieved in 45 patients. Patients were followed for an average of 2 years. Palpable pulse disappeared at 6-month follow-up in four patients. These four and another three patients with palpable pulse and the remaining 12 patients with no wrist pulse continued to have minor ischemic symptoms in the fingertips. Long-term follow-up did not reveal any aneurysm or stenosis at the subclavian repair site. Conclusion: Cervical rib though a congenital condition can remain asymptomatic till a later age. Arterial compression is rarely diagnosed before embolisation occurs. The distal artery may not be completely cleared of thrombi, and about 30% of the patients continue to suffer from ischemic symptoms even after successful surgery. Hence, all patients with complete cervical rib should be investigated and followed up with duplex scan for evidence of arterial compression. They should be advised prophylactic decompression when they develop duplex evidence of arterial compression. Intimectomy and subclavian artery repair produce good long-term results, and unnecessary resection of the subclavian artery should be avoided.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a group of diverse disorders resulting from compression of neurovascular structures as they pass from the lower neck to upper limb. Neurological symptoms, such as pain, weakness, or paraesthesia, are much more common than vascular symptoms such as pallor or venous congestion. Anatomical abnormalities can contribute to this condition. Thirty percent of patients with TOS can have a cervical rib, arising from the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra, compared with 1% of the general population. We report the first case in the literature of neurogenic TOS from a cervical rib arising from a supernumerary 8th cervical vertebra. This patient had immediate improvement in TOS symptoms following scalene muscle surgery and resection of cervical and first thoracic ribs.

Teaching Point: Ultrasound is the first-line examination for neck mass and may offer a reliable method to identify cervical ribs.

Cervical ribs, also known as Eve's ribs, are rare and found in 1% of population. They are more common in females and more common on right side. They are asymptomatic in 90% of cases. Cervical rib fused with transverse process of sixth vertebra is rarer. We present a case of dry gangrene of lateral three fingers with right radial and subclavian artery thrombosis with rest pain, due to right cervical rib fused with transverse process of sixth vertebra. After development of line of demarcation of the dry gangrene, patient was operated for excision of cervical rib and sixth cervical vertebral transverse process followed by Ray's amputation of right second finger. Postoperative course was uneventful. Patient was discharged with oral anticoagulation and a healthy wound in right hand.

A 12-year-old boy was referred to our ENT clinic with an incidentally discovered left supraclavicular mass that was suspected to be malignant. He was asymptomatic and had no prior illnesses. Neck examination found a fixed, hard, non-pulsatile, and non-tender mass measuring 2 cm in diameter in the left supraclavicular fossa. Rest of the ENT assessment, chest and upper limb neurovascular examinations were unremarkable. The patient’s full blood count was within the normal range. A plain chest radiograph was taken as part of the work-up.

Objective: Transaxillary approach for the surgical management of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) has the advantage of minimal manipulation of brachial plexus and lesser perioperative and postoperative complications. We studied the clinical presentation and transaxillary surgical excision of the first rib in TOS at our center. Materials and Methods: All patients with TOS were reviewed for their clinical presentation and outcomes of transaxillary approach for thoracic outlet decompression over a period of 10 years. We evaluated the clinical presentation, surgical details, and postoperative course of all patients who underwent surgery. Results: Sixty-three patients of TOS were studied who underwent decompression through transaxillary approach over a period of 10 years. Nearly 79.4% of the patients had neurological symptoms, whereas 20.6% had arterial symptoms. Almost all patients (98.4%) had a cervical rib. One-fourth of the study population had bilateral cervical ribs. Around 17.46% of the patients presented with acute thromboembolism of the brachial artery and were managed with emergency thromboembolectomy. Postoperative complications encountered were pleural breach (11.11%), wound infection (7.94%), and re-thrombosis (1.59%). Conclusions: Transaxillary resection of the cervical/ first rib has excellent results, with less morbidity. It is efficient in relieving symptoms and gives cosmetically acceptable scar. It is proposed that whenever any patient presents with acute upper-limb ischemia, he/she must be evaluated for cervical rib as a cause of TOS.

Although the supraclavicular approach has been widely adopted for cervical rib resection, a transaxillary approach has been favored by many. We have reviewed more than two decades of experience with decompression of the thoracic outlet to treat thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in patients with complete cervical ribs using a novel transaxillary approach. A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing surgery for TOS was searched for patients with complete (class 3 and 4) cervical ribs from 1997 to 2019. All these patients had undergone transaxillary resection using a technique in which the cervical and first ribs were separated and then individually resected. The data abstracted included patient demographics, symptoms, surgical details, and complications. The outcomes were contemporaneously assessed clinically and using standardized functional tools: somatic pain scale (SPS) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Hand, and Shoulder questionnaire (QuickDASH). The cervical rib data were organized and reported in accordance with the Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards. During the study period, 1506 patients had undergone surgery for TOS at our institution. Of these 1506 patients, 38 had undergone complete transaxillary resection of 40 fully formed cervical ribs (10 class 3 and 30 class 4). Of these 38 patients, 74% were women. The presentations had been neurogenic (65%), arterial (31%), and venous (5%). The average initial SPS and QuickDASH score was 6.4 and 50, respectively. The duration of surgery averaged 141 minutes, blood loss was 65 mL, and length of stay was 2.1 days. None of the patients had experienced brachial plexus, phrenic, or long thoracic nerve injury. The average follow-up period was 65 months. The final mean postoperative SPS and QuickDASH scores were lower than the scores at presentation (SPS score, 6.4 vs 1.2; P <.001; QuickDASH score, 50 vs 17; P <.001). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the largest reported experience of resection of fully formed cervical ribs using a transaxillary approach that allowed for individual dissection and removal of cervical and first rib segments. This technique has proved to be successful, with low morbidity and reliable improvement in patient symptom and disability scores. Based on these reported outcomes, this novel approach to transaxillary resection of fully formed cervical ribs should be considered a safe and effective operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arterial form of thoracic outlet syndrome is rare and is associated with anatomic anomalies, generally a cervical rib. It has a varied range of manifestations. The aim of this article is to describe two cases with different clinical presentations: microembolization and aneurysm. A cervical rib was present in both cases. Diagnosis was made on the basis of history, physical examination, postural maneuvers, and X-rays. Computed tomography angiography provided the anatomic detail necessary to plan surgery. Surgical treatment was performed via supraclavicular access, successfully, in both cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cervical rib syndrome occurs when the interscalene triangle is occupied by a cervical rib, displacing the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery forward, which can cause pain and muscle spasms. The objective of this study is to discuss diagnosis of the cervical rib syndrome and treatment possibilities. This therapeutic challenge describes clinical and surgical management of a 37-year-old female patient with upper limb arterial occlusion caused by a cervical rib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Patients presenting with digital upper limb ischaemia are occasionally referred to rheumatology services to rule out vasculitis. We aimed to present two cases of delayed diagnosis of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (aTOS) in middle-aged patients presenting with digital ischaemia in order to raise awareness of this important pathology that requires timely surgical intervention. Methods Two cases of progressive ischaemia of the right upper extremity caused by primarily undiagnosed compression of the subclavian artery by an accessory cervical rib are presented. The case notes, radiological images, intra-operative and postoperative findings for both patients were reviewed. Patients were followed up after ≥6 months to assess prognosis. Results Both patients had a working diagnosis of Buerger's disease and had been treated with prostaglandin infusions before establishment of the diagnosis of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Both patients were heavy smokers, and one patient had bilateral symptoms and a history of axial SpA and positive HLA-B27. Late presentation in one patient led to the loss of three fingers and the need for plastic reconstructive surgery after cervical rib resection and revascularization. In the other patient, surgical thrombectomy of the upper limb arteries along with resection of a cervical rib and repair of the subclavian artery with an interposition graft were necessitated to heal digital ulcers successfully. Conclusion A high index of suspicion of aTOS should be maintained in middle-aged patients presenting with digital or upper limb ischaemia even in the presence bilateral symptoms or relevant risk factors of other diagnoses, such as smoking or a positive rheumatological history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome treatments have high morbidity and recurrence rates. We present for the first time to our knowledge a minimally invasive spine surgery technique for complete resection of a cervical rib via a costotransversectomy approach. A patient with an 8-year history of progressive thoracic outlet syndrome presented with right C8 pain, weakness, and atrophy of her right forearm and thenar eminence. After neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome was confirmed via electromyography and imaging revealed bilateral cervical ribs (right more than left), the patient underwent a minimally invasive spine surgery resection of the rib via a costotransversectomy and was discharged home the same day. The patient's pain and weakness gradually improved over a 2-year follow-up period. Resection of a cervical rib via minimally invasive spine surgery costotransversectomy is safe and well tolerated compared with existing surgical treatments such as transaxillary, supraclavicular, and infraclavicular approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital anatomic variations exist in human anatomy, which create both diagnostic and treatment challenges. Understanding the osteologic and radiographic anatomy of supernumerary ribs arising from the cervical spine and recognizing the morphologic variations thereof is of great importance to clinicians, radiologists, and surgeons alike. This case study describes osteologic morphology and radiologic characteristics of a rare anatomic variant of a cervical rib (CR): a unilateral, right-sided CR synostosis to the first thoracic rib of a 50-year-old South African man of African ancestry. The characteristic features included increased angulation, widening of the body, and shortening of the length of the right-sided first thoracic rib. The synostosis of the CR shaft was at the level of the angle of the first thoracic rib. The widest aspect of the first thoracic rib was close to the site of fusion, namely the angle, with the mediolateral length approximately 34.51 mm. This is in contrast to the contralateral first thoracic rib measuring, at its widest, 26.39 mm. The CR was located approximately 3.34 mm superiorly to the first thoracic rib at the cervical articular facet. The CR presented with a well-defined head, which is small and rounded with the inclusion of an articular facet. Thereafter, it presented with a short neck, just over half the length of the inferiorly placed first thoracic rib, and a similar sized articulating facet at the tubercle. The appearance of the trabecular bone pattern on radiographs is in keeping with the contralateral left first rib, although altered in accordance with the gross osteologic appearance described earlier. Furthermore, the radiographs highlight an elliptical lucent-zone within the trabecular bone demonstrating decreased density centrally with a thin rim of sclerotic cortical bone peripherally. This is consistent with classical rib architecture in cross-section representing the CR shaft site of fusion to the first thoracic rib. The CR synostosis to the first thoracic rib represents a novel complex, termed by the authors as a cervicothoracic rib complex. The present report refers to the osteologic and radiographic description and comparison of a unilateral, right-sided CR synostosis to a first thoracic rib. The clinical implications of CRs may consist of neurologic, vascular complications, and functional deficits of the involved limb associated with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). A CR synostosis to the first thoracic rib represents an associated increased risk of vascular injury, with poorer operative outcomes associated with TOS. This case study is of particular importance to vascular surgeons and neurosurgeons involved with surgical planning and intervention strategies relating to CRs and TOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]