Hydrodissection of the Eighth Cervical Nerve Root for Scapular Girdle Pain Associated With Nonunion of the First Rib Stress Fracture: A Case Report.

The first rib stress fracture is a rare overuse injury, with nonunion posing challenges to athletic performance. We report an 18-year-old international-level gymnast diagnosed with the nonunion of the first rib stress fracture, experiencing pain extending to the medial scapular area. Traditional treatments provided no relief, with tests suggesting C8 nerve root involvement. This study introduces a novel approach targeting the C8 nerve root using hydrodissection, which alleviates the pain. Post-procedure, the patient resumed competition without recurrence of pain after a year. This case suggests that pain due to first rib stress fracture nonunion might be associated with the C8 nerve root, and hydrodissection could be a potentially effective treatment.