J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2006 Jun;30(3):241-246.

Comparison of the Ultrasonographic Study and the Electrodiagnostic Study on the Ulnar Neuropathy around the Elbow Region

• Sim KH
• Kim SJ
• Seo KS
• Yoon JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between the electrophysiologic findings and the ultrasonographic findings of the ulnar neuropathy around the elbow. METHOD: We examed 20 elbows with the ulnar neuropathy around the elbow and 22 healthy elbows. We measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) and the diameters of the long, short axis of the ulnar nerve at the swollen portion and the compressed portion by ultrasonography.
RESULTS
The CSA, diameters on the longitudinal and transverse view of the swollen portion of the ulnar nerve of the patients group was larger than that of the control group (p<0.05). The decrement of conduction velocity across the elbow was -0.54+/-5.74 m/s in the control group and 18.60+/-10.45 m/s in the patients group (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the decrement of the nerve conduction velocity across elbow and the decrement of CSA (r=0.346, p>0.05). There was significant correlation between the decrement of the nerve conduction velocity across elbow and the increment of the diameter on the swollen portion on the longitudinal and transverse view (r=0.541, 0.466, p<0.05, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The difference of diameter between swollen and compressed portion of the ulnar nerve on the ultrasonography was correlated with the conduction velocity decrement on the electrophysiologic study.

Keyword

Electrophysiologic findings; Ultrasonographic findings; Ulnar neuropathy; Cross-sectional area

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Elbow*
Humans
Neural Conduction
Ulnar Nerve
Ulnar Neuropathies*
Ultrasonography