Supernumerary coast: What is it? (Associated pathologies)

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Article reviewed and approved by Dr. Ibtissama Boukas, physician specializing in family medicine 

Supernumerary ribs are uncommon (0,5% to 1% of the general population), and usually appear bilaterally. As a reminder, we have 24 ribs divided into 12 pairs:

  • 7 pairs attached directly to the sternum
  • 3 pairs tied together
  • 2 pairs of floating ribs

The supernumerary ribs are most often in the form of a cervical rib starting from C7, or even a lumbar rib starting from L1. In extremely rare situations, there may be supernumerary ribs at the sacral, coccygeal, or intrathoracic level.

Patients are often asymptomatic when they present with a supernumerary rib. These are most often discovered incidentally by radiography (for example, following a trauma or an episode of back pain).

In some cases, however, patients may experience pain or symptoms due to the presence of a supernumerary rib. We think, for example, of thoracic outlet syndrome where pain and radiation appear due to compression of the brachial plexus.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU:  Floating rib: Definition and anatomy (associated pathologies)

In addition, an increased number of ribs can be associated with pathologies such as:

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