A Unique Case of Intradural Communicating Branches between the Accessory Nerve and the Dorsal Roots of the Cervical Spinal Nerves

Abstract

This case does not fit into any of the previously described classifications in the literature. Therefore, the different variations concerning the communications between the spinal rootlets of the accessory nerve and the cervical spinal nerves should be kept in mind during both surgical, especially radical neck dissections, and nonsurgical evaluations.

Intradural communication between dorsal rootlets of spinal nerves: their clinical significance

“…Early studies supply extensive morphometric data on the size, number, diameter, and the myelinated properties of fibers forming the dorsal and ventral rootlets of spinal nerves in humans [24]. Further, the communications of the cervical dorsal rootlets with the spinal accessory nerve have been described in detail [3,14,16,22,24]. However, a few anatomical studies demonstrate the communications between cervical dorsal rootlets [23,30].…”