Cervical ribs is a syndrome that may give rise to some more medical conditions. These conditions are secondary condition causing because of cervical rib abnormalities.
Associated conditions
The presence of a cervical rib can cause a form of thoracic outlet syndrome due to compression of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus or subclavian artery. These structures are entrapped between the cervical rib and scalenus muscle.
Compression of the brachial plexus may be identified by weakness of the muscles around the muscles in the hand, near the base of the thumb. Compression of the subclavian artery is often diagnosed by finding a positive Adson's sign on examination, where the radial pulse in the arm is lost during abduction and external rotation of the shoulder.
compression of sub clavian artery. [health-pic.com]
DEBATE:
It is under scientific debate to what degree children born with cervical ribs develop early childhood cancer at a higher rate than the general population. The Hox genes that control the development of cervical vertebrae are believed to play a role in suppressing cancer.
