Supernumerary cervical vertebrae - a clinical case report

Abstract

Background: The number of cervical vertebrae is constant in humans and most mammals have seven cervical vertebrae. Change in number of cervical vertebrae is associated with major congenital defects, stillbirths and paediatric cancers with a resulting high level of early mortality lethality. This report emphasizes that supernumerary cervical vertebrae can exist as an isolated anomaly.

Case Report: A 30 year old male civil servant was referred to the spine surgery unit with neck pain of 2 weeks duration. The pain radiated to the medial aspect of the left upper limb down to the fingers and is aggravated by bending the neck forwards. There was no history of weakness or numbness in the arms and hands, or swelling or in the arm with activity, no weakness of hand grip, hand dexterity intact, and no gait problems. He had no history of trauma to the cervical spine, no deformity of the spine or any neurological deficits. There was no musculoskeletal deformities or any abnormalities noted in organ system. X-rays of the cervical spine (Fig 1) showed 10 cervical vertebrae with mild degenerative changes at C4, C5. Xrays of the other aspects of the spine showed no other abnormalities. He was managed conservatively with analgesics, muscle relaxant and physiotherapy. At 6-month follow up visit patient was pain free.

Conclusion: Supernumerary cervical vertebrae though extremely rare can occur as an isolated vertebral anomaly in an otherwise healthy individual and can be associated with neck pain.