Bilateral Thoracic Outlet Syndrome from Anomalous 8th Cervical Vertebrae Ribs

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• thoracic outlet syndrome
• eighth cervical vertebra
• cervical rib
• brachial plexus