The intercostobrachial artery is a small branch from the second intercostal artery that passes through the axilla alongside the intercostobrachial nerve, supplying the medial upper arm skin and axillary contents. It is the arterial companion to the intercostobrachial nerve.
The intercostobrachial artery is divided during axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer surgery, contributing to the post-mastectomy pain syndrome that frequently involves the medial arm. Its division is necessary for complete axillary clearance but results in medial arm numbness from intercostobrachial nerve companion injury. Identifying and preserving this vessel-nerve bundle when possible reduces post-operative medial arm symptoms.
Division of the intercostobrachial artery and nerve during axillary clearance producing medial upper arm numbness and chronic axillary pain in post-mastectomy pain syndrome.
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