[Acute cerebral circulatory disorders of an ischemic nature in young persons with an accessory cervical rib]

Two young patients with ischemic strokes in the vertebrobasilar basin were observed. The results of the observation verified by brachiocephalic aortography and operation showed that the development of the ischemic lesion because of a circulation disorder in the vertebrobasilar basin in young people could be due to the presence of an additional cervical rib. The leading role in the pathogenesis of those disorders belongs to arterial spasms developing because of irritation of the vegetative structures of the subclavicular artery. The authors consider it reasonable to differentiate between the additional cervical rib syndrome and hypertrophy of the transverse process of the VIIIth vertebra on the one hand and the syndrome of the anterior scalene muscle on the other.