IS Case 555: Right cervical rib fracture

Sirisha Jasti, MD

University of Rochester

Imaging Sciences URMC 2010
Publication Date: 2010-09-25

History

Patient is an 8-year-old female with right shoulder and arm pain for several weeks and family felt a lump in the supra-clavicular region.

Findings

PA view of the chest showed clear lungs with a fractured right cervical rib.

Diagnosis

Right cervical rib fracture

Discussion

A cervical rib is seen in less than 1% of the population and usually arises from the C7 vertebra. It is more common in females than males. Cervical ribs are usually asymptomatic, but sometimes can compress the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery of the neck causing thoracic outlet syndrome. People with cervical rib are ten times more likely to develop thoracic outlet syndrome than the general population. If a patient develops thoracic outlet syndrome, then surgical resection of the cervical rib is done.

References

  1. Sanders RJ, Haug CE. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Common Sequela of Neck Injuries. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1991.
  2. Kamath GS, Borkar S, Chauhan A, et al. Isolated cervical rib fracture. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Jun;89(6):e41-2.

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