BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Local compression of the ulnar nerve occurs most commonly at the elbow and optimal surgical intervention should be directed at the specific site of involvement. This study is designed to localize the more discrete region by using the method of short segment stimulation in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. METHODS: Thirty seven patients who were diagnosed as entrapment ulnar neuropathy at the elbow by routine nerve conduction studies were investigated. Latency changes and amplitude changes including conduction block were determined by stimulating the ulnar nerve at 2cm intervals across the elbow. Six of these patients had orthopedic surgery after undergoing short segment stimulation studies. RESULT: All patients had significant latency changes(> OR =0.7msec) in specific segments by short segment stimulation and 6 patients of them showed conduction block. The most frequently involved segments were between medial epicondyle and 2cm proximal(20 patients) and between medial epicondyle and 2cm distal(9 patients). Only two patients exhibited significant latency changes between 2 and 4cm distal to the medial epicondyle, suggesting cubital tunnel syndrome. Lesions, as identified by surgery, proved to be accurately predicted by preoperative short segment stimulation in 5 of 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Short segment stimulation studies are helpful in localizing more accurate involved segment in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. And the most commonly involved site is within 2cm of the medial epicondyle suggesting tardy ulnar nerve palsy.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Neural Conduction ; Orthopedics ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Neuropathies*

Entrapment of the ulnar nerve around the elbow is the second most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity. Many anatomical regions that possibly compress the ulnar nerve around the elbow joint have been described, however few cases below the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle have been reported. A case with ulnar nerve entrapment at the flexor pronator aponeurosis, secondary to surgery is reported in this study.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome* ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Upper Extremity

Heterotopic bone formation occurs in approximately 2% of severe burn cases. It occurs most frequently around the elbow. It is not related to the burn location, rather it is related to degree of burns and length of confinement. Although bony encasement of the ulnar nerve is frequently found, ulnar nerve compression by postburn ectopic ossification is very rare. Early anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is recommened to prevent progressive neurologic loss. We report a case of cubital tunnel syndrome by postburn ectopic ossification with brief review of pertinent literature.
Burns ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome* ; Elbow ; Ossification, Heterotopic* ; Osteogenesis ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common nerve entrapment syndrome affecting the upper extremity. Surgical treatment is indicated for those who have motor weakness or when conservative measures have failed. Several different surgical techniques have been introduced, however, the optimal treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome is still under debate. In the recent years, well-performed prospective randomized studies show that there is no difference in outcome among various surgical techniques regardless of the severity and presence of subluxation. It is advised that in situ decompression is the preferred technique because it is simpler and less time consuming procedure. Although in situ decompression is effective in uncomplicated ulnar nerve subluxation, anterior transposition should be considered when the subluxation is painful or when the ulnar nerve actually snaps back and forth over the medial epicondyle. Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is still indicated for revision surgery, previous trauma around the elbow, distal humerus fractures, severe osteoarthritis needing medial spur excision, and severe valgus deformity of the elbow.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Decompression ; Elbow ; Humerus ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Osteoarthritis ; Ulnar Nerve ; Upper Extremity

Ulnar nerve compression in the cubital tunnel is a common entrapment syndrome of the upper limb. Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning (PRFL) has been reported as a treatment method for relieving neuropathic pain. Since the placement of the electrode in close proximity to a targeted nerve is very important for the success of PRFL, ultrasound seems to be well suited for this technique. A 36-year-old woman presented with complaints of numbness and pain on the medial aspect of the elbow and the pain radiated down to the 4th and 5th fingers for 10 years after she suffered an elbow contusion, we then scheduled this woman for the ultrasound guided PRFL of the ulanr nerve. The initial ultrasound examination demonstrated a swollen nerve, loss of the fascicular pattern and an increased cross sectional area of the ulnar nerve. After confirmation of the most swollen site of the nerve via ultrasound, two sessions of PRFL were performed. The postprocedural 10 cm visual analog scale score decreased from 8 to 1 after the two sessions of PRFL.
Adult ; Contusions ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow ; Electrodes ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Neuralgia ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Upper Extremity

Causes of ulnar nerve compression in Guyon's canal are various, but thrombosis of the ulnar artery due to a single trauma is rarely reported. We report a case of ulnar nerve compression caused by traumatic thrombosis of the ulnar artery in Guyon's canal. Surgical excision of the ulnar artery thrombus and end to end anastomosis resulted in complete relief of the patient's symptoms.
Thrombosis* ; Ulnar Artery* ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes

The arcade of Struthers has been described as a possible cause of ulnar nerve compression in the elbow. This paper reports two cases of ulnar neuropathy caused by the arcade of Struthers. These observations demonstrated the importance of evaluation of the arcade of Struthers in atypical high ulnar nerve palsy.
Elbow* ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Ulnar Neuropathies*

We found a unique anatomical variant of the distal ulnar nerve, a neural loop encompassing the flexor carpi ulnaris during Guyon's canal exploration. Compression by the flexor carpi ulnaris during active wrist movement was suspected as the cause of ulnar neuropathy. The symptom was relieved after neurolysis and release of surrounding tissue. With regard to the ulnar side wrist pain, which is suspicious for ulnar compression syndrome at the wrist level, the surgeon should always suspect anomalous nerve branch as source of compressive neuropathic pain.
Neuralgia ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Wrist

The association of medial elbow ganglion cyst with cubital tunnel syndrome has been rarely reported. A 61-year-old man presented with progressive right hypothenar atrophy and paresthesia for 7 months. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed ulnar nerve entrapment with a cystic ganglion in cubital tunnel. Decompression of ulnar nerve and excision of the ganglion were performed. Motor function of the ulnar nerve showed an improvement four months later after surgery. Because most ganglia are occult, imaging study is warranted especially in case with osteoarthritis. Excision of the ganglion performed concurrently with decompression of the ulnar nerve provide satisfactory results.
Atrophy ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome* ; Decompression ; Elbow ; Ganglia ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; Paresthesia ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ultrasonography

Ganglion cyst is considered to be a usual cause of peripheral nerve compression. In this report, we present a rare case of ulnar nerve compression by a multi-septated ganglion cyst in the cubital tunnel. A 33-year-old left-handed male amateur tennis player developed progressive numbness and weakness in his right elbow, forearm, and hand for 1 year. Decrease of grip power was apparent in left hand. Clinical examination revealed a cystic mass at the posterior side of the elbow. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a ganglion cyst at the elbow. During surgery about 3 cm diameter epineural ganglion was observed compressing the ulnar nerve and was excised using microsurgery techniques. Three months postoperatively, the clinical recovery of the patient was very satisfactory and he restored his original performance in tennis match.
Adult ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow ; Forearm ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Peripheral Nerves ; Tennis ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes