Cervical Ribs are Conditions You Are Born with or Anomalies
(Cervical Ribs, Elongated Bones)
Cervical ribs are an extra set of ribs at the top of the rib cage. There can also be partial ribs or elongated prominences, called thoracic processes, that doctors think can compress the outlet.
It is rare for patients with an extra rib to spontaneously develop thoracic outlet syndrome. Cervical ribs are rare. The incidence of cervical ribs has been found to vary from 0.58 percent in the Malaysian population to 6.2 percent in the Turkish population (18). The incidence of cervical ribs has been estimated at 2 percent (19), with one expert quoting the incidence to be less than 1 percent, of the population in the United States (20).
I have been in practice for 30 years and have not seen one case where an extra or deformed rib was the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome. This is a congenital anomaly that is something you are born with, that usually compensates to allow your thoracic outlet and tunnel to have a normal amount of space for nerves and blood vessels to pass. Remember, the spring suspension system supported by muscles is what maintains the integrity of the thoracic outlet and tunnel.
However, when doctors who are unfamiliar with the true spring design see these extra ribs on X-rays, oftentimes they just make a snap judgment that they are the cause of the compression and advise the patient to have them removed. When patients see them, they are oftentimes in shock and right away think they should be removed too.
Here is where logic steps in. If you are 30 years old and just started to have symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, get an X-ray, and see your cervical ribs, they are NOT the cause of the compression of the outlet. The size and shape of those ribs matured by your 21st birthday and for many of you by your 18th birthday. Extra ribs cannot be the cause of compression of the outlet in this case.
Many patients have congenital anomalies, such as scoliosis, extra ribs, extra lower back or neck vertebrae, and even fused vertebrae. They are interesting, but they rarely, if ever, cause any problems. I know many top athletes and even power lifters who broke world strength records with severe scoliosis, extra and fused vertebrae. These normal variances are just there to throw doctors off when they don’t know their stuff.
However, scoliosis curves and deformities can get so bad before the age of 18 that they can require surgery to correct them. Surgery for adolescents with scoliosis is only recommended when their curves are greater than 40–45 degrees and continuing to progress, and for most patients with curves that are greater than 50 degrees.
My father was the chair of the Shriners Hospitals Committee for Crippled Children. To this day, he is the number-one sponsor of children into Shriners Hospitals. I am not against surgery that is medically necessary.
I just haven’t had one case of TOS I thought could not be reversed with my logical nonsurgical approach.
If you have thoracic outlet syndrome and scoliosis or a cervical rib and the doctors want to operate on you claiming the thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by your cervical rib… please make an appointment for a free strategy meeting so we can talk this out before you make a painful mistake.
Dr James Stoxen DC., FSSEMM (hon) He is the president of Team Doctors®, Treatment and Training Center Chicago, one of the most recognized treatment centers in the world.
Dr Stoxen is a #1 International Bestselling Author of the book, The Human Spring Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He has lectured at more than 20 medical conferences on his Human Spring Approach to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and asked to publish his research on this approach to treating thoracic outlet syndrome in over 30 peer review medical journals.
He has been asked to submit his other research on the human spring approach to treatment, training and prevention in over 150 peer review medical journals. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Orthopedic Science and Research, Executive Editor or the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care, Chief Editor, Advances in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Journal and editorial board for over 35 peer review medical journals.
He is a much sought-after speaker. He has given over 1000 live presentations and lectured at over 70 medical conferences to over 50,000 doctors in more than 20 countries. He has been invited to speak at over 300 medical conferences which includes invitations as the keynote speaker at over 50 medical conferences.
After his groundbreaking lecture on the Integrated Spring-Mass Model at the World Congress of Sports and Exercise Medicine he was presented with an Honorary Fellowship Award by a member of the royal family, the Sultan of Pahang, for his distinguished research and contributions to the advancement of Sports and Exercise Medicine on an International level. He was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Personal Trainers Hall of Fame in 2012.
Dr Stoxen has a big reputation in the entertainment industry working as a doctor for over 150 tours of elite entertainers, caring for over 1000 top celebrity entertainers and their handlers. Anthony Field or the popular children’s entertainment group, The Wiggles, wrote a book, How I Got My Wiggle Back detailing his struggles with chronic pain and clinical depression he struggled with for years. Dr Stoxen is proud to be able to assist him.
Full Bio) Dr Stoxen can be reached directly at teamdoctors@aol.com
