Congenital brachial plexus palsy (CBPP) usually occurs secondarily to intrapartum trauma, but this is not always the case. Cervical ribs have previously been reported to increase the risk of CBPP in association with birth trauma. We report the cases of two children (one female, one male) with congenital lower brachial plexus palsy in whom the presence of non-ossified cervical ribs was the only identified risk factor. In the female child magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, spinal cord, and brachial plexus revealed no abnormality except for the presence of bilateral cervical ribs at the level of the seventh cervical (C7) vertebra. Chest radiography was normal, which suggested that the cervical ribs identified on the MRI were fibrous bands or cartilaginous ribs rather than ossified ribs. In the male child, MRI of the spine and brachial plexus was normal but he was noted to have bilateral cervical ribs at C7. These were not identifiable on chest radiography and, therefore, are likely to reflect fibrous bands or cartilaginous ribs
Keywords : abnormalities,Brachial Plexus,Brachial Plexus Neuropathies,Cervical Rib,Cervical Rib Syndrome,Child,Child,Preschool,congenital,diagnosis,Electromyography,Female,Follow-Up Studies,Forearm,Hand,Humans,Image Processing,Computer-Assisted,Infant,Infant,Newborn,innervation,Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Male,Median Nerve,Muscle Weakness,Muscular Atrophy,Neural Conduction,Neurologic Examination,physiology,physiopathology,Radiography,Ribs,Spinal Cord,Spine,Ulnar Nerve,, Lower,Brachial,Plexus,Palsy,Due, intercostal pain
Date of Publication : 2011 Feb
Authors : Desurkar A;Mills K;Pitt M;Jan W;Sinisi M;Male I;Wraige E;
Organisation : Department of Paediatric Neurology, Evelina Children’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, UK
Journal of Publication : Dev Med Child Neurol
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21244414
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery
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