Anatomical Study of the Intercostobrachial Nerve in Sprague-Dawlay Rats

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore the anatomy of the in-tercostobrachial nerve in rats. METHODS Dissections of 8 Sprague-dawley rats were performed to examine the intercostobrachial nerve. Fifteen dissections were successful. The position of the nerve, origin, termination, length and diameter were measured and recorded. RESULTS 1) 80% of the nerves originated from the second intercostal space and 20% from the first intercostal space; 2) 60% of the nerves terminated in the latissimus dorsi and 40% in the axillary skin 3) the branches of the nerves only were divided into 2 types, single and double; 4) the length of the nerves ranged from 2.4 to 3.4 cm with an average of 2.97±0.90 cm; 5) the diameter of the nerves was thicker at their origin compared to their termination. CONCLUSION The intercostobrachial nerve is simple in rats with 60% terminating in the latissimus dorsi.

Preservation of the Intercostobrachial Nerve during Axillary Dissection for Breast Cancer at the Surgical Oncology Unit of Cancer Department of Dakar University

The intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) is responsible for the sensory innervation of a part of the inner side of the arm. Injury of the intercostobrachial nerve is a complication of axillary dissection during lymph node dissection. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve on postoperative sensory disturbances. Methods: This is a prospective, single-center study which was carried out in 90 patients followed in the oncology department of the Aristide Le Dantec hospital in Dakar, suffering from breast cancer and having undergone breast surgery associated with axillary dissection, for a period of 6 months. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) was preserved or not. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of sensory disturbances. Results: Sixty patients without nerve preservation and 30 patients with nerve preservation were included in the study, i.e., 90 patients in total. ICBN was injured in 60 patients of which 41 patients (83.7%) developed numbness in the inner arm. While in the preserved group, only 8 patients suffered from numbness (16.3%) with a significant P value of 0.002;however, for other variables such as the incidence of neuropathic pain and hypoesthesia-like sensory deficit, there was no significant difference. Conclusion: Preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve during axillary dissection for breast cancer reduces the incidence of sensory disturbances on the upper limb.