Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of fascial sling of flexor-pronator teres origin and anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve in the treatment of severe cubital tunnel syndrome.Methods:30 patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome were prospectively enrolled, who underwent surgical treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University from December 2021 to February 2022. Randomized drawing divided the patients into two groups: the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group with 15 cases on each group. In the fascial sling group, there were 11 males and 4 females, with an average age of 59 years (range 51-73 years), who underwent fascial suspension after ulnar nerve decompression. In the anterior subcutaneous transposition group, there were 10 males and 5 females, with an average age of 56 years (range 41-72 years), who underwent where the ulnar nerve was subcutaneous transposition after ulnar nerve decompression. The dynamic two-point discrimination and grip strength of the little finger on the affected limb were measured at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The postoperative improvement between the two groups were compared. Functional assessment and patient satisfaction surveys were conducted and compared at 24 months.Results:Neither groups had incision-related complications. The surgical duration for the fascial sling group was longer than that for the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (46.80±1.86 min and 43.87±2.00 min) with significant difference ( t=4.166, P<0.001). Blood loss during surgery in the fascial sling group was greater than that in the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (3.53±0.52 ml and 2.53±0.52 ml) with significant difference ( t=5.303, P<0.001). No significant difference was found in the improvement of dynamic two-point discrimination of the little finger in the affected limb at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively between the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (5.87±1.41 mm, 4.27±1.16 mm, 3.13±1.06 mm and 5.73±1.98 mm, 4.40±1.45mm, 3.20±1.15 mm), ( t=0.213, P=0.833; t=-0.277, P=0.784; t=-0.165, P=0.870). There was no significant difference in grip strength improvement in the affected limb at 6 and 12 months postoperatively between the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (24.62±4.94 kg, 25.88±4.72 kg and 21.94±3.76 kg, 23.62±4.00kg), ( t=1.448, P=0.159; t=1.404, P=0.171). At 24 months postoperatively, the fascial sling group showed better grip strength improvement compared to the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (27.58±4.92 kg and 23.62±4.00 kg) with significant difference ( t=2.425, P=0.033). The functional assessment revealed that the fascial sling group included 4 excellent, 8 good, and 3 acceptable cases, while the anterior subcutaneous transposition group had 3 excellent, 8 good, and 4 acceptable cases. One case in the fascial sling group was unsatisfied with the improvement in function. Four cases in the anterior subcutaneous transposition group were unsatisfied with functional improvement due to significant discomfort in the surgical area. Conclusion:The fascial sling technique of the flexor-pronator muscle origin yielded better clinical results on postoperative grip strength improvement and patient satisfaction compared to the anterior subcutaneous transposition.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of fascial sling of flexor-pronator teres origin and anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve in the treatment of severe cubital tunnel syndrome.Methods:30 patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome were prospectively enrolled, who underwent surgical treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University from December 2021 to February 2022. Randomized drawing divided the patients into two groups: the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group with 15 cases on each group. In the fascial sling group, there were 11 males and 4 females, with an average age of 59 years (range 51-73 years), who underwent fascial suspension after ulnar nerve decompression. In the anterior subcutaneous transposition group, there were 10 males and 5 females, with an average age of 56 years (range 41-72 years), who underwent where the ulnar nerve was subcutaneous transposition after ulnar nerve decompression. The dynamic two-point discrimination and grip strength of the little finger on the affected limb were measured at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The postoperative improvement between the two groups were compared. Functional assessment and patient satisfaction surveys were conducted and compared at 24 months.Results:Neither groups had incision-related complications. The surgical duration for the fascial sling group was longer than that for the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (46.80±1.86 min and 43.87±2.00 min) with significant difference ( t=4.166, P<0.001). Blood loss during surgery in the fascial sling group was greater than that in the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (3.53±0.52 ml and 2.53±0.52 ml) with significant difference ( t=5.303, P<0.001). No significant difference was found in the improvement of dynamic two-point discrimination of the little finger in the affected limb at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively between the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (5.87±1.41 mm, 4.27±1.16 mm, 3.13±1.06 mm and 5.73±1.98 mm, 4.40±1.45mm, 3.20±1.15 mm), ( t=0.213, P=0.833; t=-0.277, P=0.784; t=-0.165, P=0.870). There was no significant difference in grip strength improvement in the affected limb at 6 and 12 months postoperatively between the fascial sling group and the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (24.62±4.94 kg, 25.88±4.72 kg and 21.94±3.76 kg, 23.62±4.00kg), ( t=1.448, P=0.159; t=1.404, P=0.171). At 24 months postoperatively, the fascial sling group showed better grip strength improvement compared to the anterior subcutaneous transposition group (27.58±4.92 kg and 23.62±4.00 kg) with significant difference ( t=2.425, P=0.033). The functional assessment revealed that the fascial sling group included 4 excellent, 8 good, and 3 acceptable cases, while the anterior subcutaneous transposition group had 3 excellent, 8 good, and 4 acceptable cases. One case in the fascial sling group was unsatisfied with the improvement in function. Four cases in the anterior subcutaneous transposition group were unsatisfied with functional improvement due to significant discomfort in the surgical area. Conclusion:The fascial sling technique of the flexor-pronator muscle origin yielded better clinical results on postoperative grip strength improvement and patient satisfaction compared to the anterior subcutaneous transposition.