TY - JOUR T1 - Dual spinal accessory nerve: caution during neck dissection JF - BMJ Case Reports JO - BMJ Case Reports DO - 10.1136/bcr-2020-235487 VL - 13 IS - 6 SP - e235487 AU - Muhammad Hassan Danish AU - Haissan Iftikhar AU - Mubasher Ikram Y1 - 2020/06/01 UR - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/6/e235487.abstract N2 - Preserving the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) is an important step in the modern-day neck dissection to avoid postoperative functional morbidity in patients. This goal can become technically difficult, especially, when rare anatomical variations are encountered. We present a case of dual SAN in a patient undergoing selective neck dissection for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Both SANs were preserved and patient had no shoulder dysfunction postoperatively. We take this opportunity to emphasise that meticulous dissection is the only proven way to preserve the nerve. And that surgeons should be aware of this anatomical variation. SAN should be subjected to minimal traction during neck dissection to avoid tension neuropraxia and long-term shoulder dysfunction. ER -