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J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj 2016; 11(01): e21-e28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1583756
Original Contribution
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dorsal Scapular Artery Variations and Relationship to the Brachial Plexus, and a Related Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Case

Anne-Marie A. Verenna
1   Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2   Delaware County Community College, Media, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Daniela Alexandru
3   Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, California, United States
,
Afshin Karimi
4   UC3D LABS, Del Mar, California, United States
,
Justin M. Brown
5   Division of Neurosurgery, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, California, United States
,
Geoffrey M. Bove
6   Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, United States
,
Frank J. Daly
6   Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, United States
,
Anthony M. Pastore
6   Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, United States
,
Helen E. Pearson
1   Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Mary F. Barbe
1   Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 July 2015

23 March 2016

Publication Date:
10 May 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Rationale Knowledge of the relationship of the dorsal scapular artery (DSA) with the brachial plexus is limited.

Objective We report a case of a variant DSA path, and revisit DSA origins and under-investigated relationship with the plexus in cadavers.

Methods The DSA was examined in a male patient and 106 cadavers.

Results In the case, we observed an unusual DSA compressing the lower plexus trunk, that resulted in intermittent radiating pain and paresthesia. In the cadavers, the DSA originated most commonly from the subclavian artery (71%), with 35% from the thyrocervical trunk. Nine sides of eight cadavers (seven females) had two DSA branches per side, with one branch from each origin. The most typical DSA path was a subclavian artery origin before passing between upper and middle brachial plexus trunks (40% of DSAs), versus between middle and lower trunks (23%), or inferior (4%) or superior to the plexus (1%). Following a thyrocervical trunk origin, the DSA passed most frequently superior to the plexus (23%), versus between middle and lower trunks (6%) or upper and middle trunks (4%). Bilateral symmetry in origin and path through the brachial plexus was observed in 13 of 35 females (37%) and 6 of 17 males (35%), with the most common bilateral finding of a subclavian artery origin and a path between upper and middle trunks (17%).

Conclusion Variability in the relationship between DSA and trunks of the brachial plexus has surgical and clinical implications, such as diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Keywords

dorsal scapular artery - subclavian artery - thyrocervical trunk - brachial plexus - thoracic outlet syndrome - anatomical variations

Supplementary Material

 

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