Cervical ribs. Therapeutic deliberations apropos of 10 cases

The authors report ten cases of cervical ribs operated upon in 7 patients. The predominantly neurological symptoms and signs were associated with vascular problems in 3 cases, with intermittent compression of the sub-clavian vessels. Treatment consisted of resection of the cervical rib and the first rib via an extra-pleural axillary approach using the technique described by Roos. It gave 10 good results with a follow-up of 6 months to 3 years. The authors emphasise the fact that this pathology falls within the context of compressive syndromes of the root of the upper limb or thoracic outlet syndrome. Such a conception justifies associated resection of the first rib which should give better long term results than simple resection of the extra rib.