[Significance of the intercostobrachial nerve in axillary lymph node excision]

The anatomy of the intercostobrachial nerves is described; generally two or three of them exist on each side. We followed up 101 modified radical mastectomies with axillary dissection: 53 cases (52.5%) had no sensory disturbances of the intercostobrachial nerves, 48 (47.5%) had either a loss of sensibility or dysesthesias. 8 patients (7.9%) showed an intercostobrachial nerve entrapment syndrome grade I, whereas 4 (3.96%) patients complained of a more intense pain syndrome (2 x grade II, 2 x grade III).