Eur J Anat, 23 (6): 453-458 (2019)

A case of cervical rib and neurovascular compression in Roman period

Mauro Rubini^1,2, Alessandro Gozzi¹, Nunzia Libianchi¹, M. Letizia Arancio³, Paola Zaio¹

¹S.A.B.A.P.-LAZ, Anthropological Service Ministry of Culture, Via degli Stabilimenti 5 00019 Tivoli, Rome, Italy,²University of Foggia, Department of Archeology,³S.A.B.A.P.-RM-MET

ABSTRACT The possibility to study axial anomalies directly on a skeletal individual is not very frequent. One well preserved skeletal individual from an Italian site dating to the late antique period (5th -4th cen-turies CE) was studied. This individual shows some interesting skeletal changes in the vertebrae and ribs. A supernumerary rib was found. It is a cervical rib connected to the 1st thoracic rib, pre-sumably with a fibrous bundle. The presence of cervical ribs can produce neurovascular compres-sion of the brachial plexus and subclavian vessels. Because of this, it is often a cause of thoracic out-let syndrome (TOS). In our case the presence of a cervical rib articulated with the first thoracic rib through a probable fibrous band could have re-stricted the space where the brachial plexus and subclavian vessels pass through, creating a state of neurovascular compression, similar

Keywords: Supernumerary ribs â?? Neurovascular involvement â?? Thoracic outlet syndrome â?? Roman period