Intradural anastomoses between the cervical spinal nerves: Anatomical study.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Neuroscience
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• Peripheral nerves exhibit anastomoses at various levels.
• Intraspinal anastomoses, though common, are understudied.
• Understanding these connections is crucial for neurological assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and quantity of intradural anastomoses.
• Focus on cervical spinal nerves within the Latin population.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of 14 adult formaldehyde-fixed corpses (8 male, 6 female).
• Systematic recording of anastomosis presence, laterality, level, and sensory/motor root origin.

Main Results:

• Anastomoses observed in 79% of cases (11 out of 14), with 8 cases showing bilateral connections.
• A total of 52 anastomoses identified: 83% between sensory roots and 17% between motor roots.
• Most frequent anastomosis levels were C1-C2 and C2-C3, accounting for 63% of all observed connections.

Conclusions:

• Intraspinal anastomoses can modify clinical manifestations of spinal cord injuries and nerve compressions.
• Sensory or motor information may exit the neuraxis via adjacent spinal nerves due to these anastomoses.
• This variability impacts diagnoses of brachial plexus lesions and nerve root tumors.