Welcome to International Journal of Anatomy and Research

Type of Article: Original Research

Year: 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 2 | Page No. 2502-2507

Date of Publication: 30-06-2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2016.253

ANATOMICAL VARIANTS OF NERVE OF KUNTZ AND ITS CLINICAL AND SURGICAL IMPLICATIONS

N. Esakkiammal ^*1, Khizer Hussain Afroze M², Renu Chauhan ³, Manickam Subramanian ⁴, Balaji T. K ⁵, Azmatulla Shaik ⁶.

^*1 Senior Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, UCMS, Delhi, India.

² PhD Research Scholar, Department of Anatomy, SSMC, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India.

³ Professor & HOD, Department of Anatomy, UCMS, Delhi, India.

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, CHRI, Chennai, TN, India.

⁵ Professor, Department of Anatomy , CHRI, Chennai, TN, India.

⁶ Tutor, Department of Physiology, FH Medical College, Tundla, Firozabad, UP, India.

Address: Dr. N. Esakkiammal, Senior Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, UCMS, Delhi, India.
E-Mail: esakki510@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The nerve of Kuntz is an inconstant intra thoracic ramus arises from the 2nd thoracic nerve and it carries the sympathetic fibres joined with either 1st thoracic or 1st intercostal nerve or stellate ganglion to contribute the sympathetic innervations to the upper limb. The intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz is one of the causes for surgical failures and recurrence of symptoms after sympathectomy.  Knowledge of anatomy of the sympathetic innervation to the upper limb is of great importance for neurosurgeons during surgical sympathectomy procedures.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 12 formalin fixed cadavers (24 sides) in the Department of Anatomy, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute. After reflection of the anterior wall and eviscerated of the thorax, the intrathoracic organs were removed to expose the posterior mediastinum. The incidence of any connection between the 2nd to 1st thoracic or 1st intercostal nerve or stellate ganglion were noted and photographed. The variations observed were classified as per Zaidi and Ashraf (2010) classification of intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz.
OBSERVATIONS: In the present study, Out of 12 cadavers (24 sides) dissected, the nerve of Kuntz was present in 9 Specimens (37.6%). As per Zaidi and Ashraf (2010) classification, Type A was seen in 12.5%, Type B in 4.3%, Type C in 8.3% and of Type D in 12.5%
CONCLUSION: The data regarding the study on variations of intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz is helpful to the surgeons to successfully perform upper limb sympathectomy.
KEY WORDS: Intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz, Kuntz’s Nerve, Thoracic Sympathetic Chain.

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N. Esakkiammal, Khizer Hussain Afroze M, Renu Chauhan, Manickam Subramanian, Balaji T. K, Azmatulla Shaik. ANATOMICAL VARIANTS OF NERVE OF KUNTZ AND ITS CLINICAL AND SURGICAL IMPLICATIONS. Int J Anat Res 2016;4(2):2502-2507. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2016.253