Naffziger Syndrome - Symptoms & Treatment
Naffziger Syndrome is also known as the cervical rib syndrome, scalenus anticus syndrome and thoracic outlet obstruction syndrome. The cause is the congenital demeanor of an additional rib in the lower neck above the normal first rib. Nerves and arteries can be compressed between this extra cervical rib and the scalenus anticus muscle in the neck. The abnormal pressure on the ulnar nerve causes pain and a pins and needles sensation in the arm and hand, muscular weakness of small hand muscles, and mutated sensation in forearm and hand. In acute cases patients have cold blue hands and reduced pulsation and blood flow in the radial and ulnar arteries in the arm. An x-ray of the neck shows the extra cervical rib. Rest, neck traction and surgical excision of extra rib are the possible treatments. The condition is usually slowly tolerant with an intermittent course, but good results are obtained from surgery.
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