J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2014 Oct;49(5):346-354. 10.4055/jkoa.2014.49.5.346.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

• Sim GB
• Kim CW
• Sun JH
• Kim JS
• Chun JM
• Jeon IH

• KMID: 2185170
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2014.49.5.346

Abstract

Cubital tunnel syndrome is compressive neuropathy, entrapment of the ulnar nerve around the medial epicondyle of the elbow joint, and the second most common neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients complain of hypoesthesia or paresthesia in the ulnar half of the ring and small fingers early in the disease. Advanced disease is complicated by irreversible muscle weakness or atrophy and claw hand deformity of the ring and small fingers. Although traditional decompression and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is known as standard treatment, according to recent reports only simple decompression has a good outcome. So, variety of surgical treatment options are available. In this paper, we purpose to describe the causes, clinical features and recent surgical treatments of cubital tunnel syndrome.

Keyword

cubital tunnel syndrome; simple decompression; decompression with anterior transposition

MeSH Terms

Animals
Atrophy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome*
Decompression
Elbow Joint
Fingers
Hand Deformities
Hoof and Claw
Humans
Hypesthesia
Muscle Weakness
Nerve Compression Syndromes
Paresthesia
Ulnar Nerve

Figure

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  Figure 1 The course of the ulnar nerve across the elbow. Note the potential sites of compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel syndrome. 1. Arcade of Struthers; 2. ulnar nerve; 3. medial intermuscular septum; 4. medial head of triceps; 5. medial epicondyle; 6. olecranon; 7. epitrochleoanconeus muscle; 8. osborne's ligament; 9. flexor carpi ulnaris; 10. ulnar collateral ligament.

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  Figure 2 Wartenberg sign.

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  Figure 3 Antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

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  Figure 4 The ulnar nerve is clearly identified in simple decompression.

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  Figure 5 Use of fascial sling for anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve.

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  Figure 6 Appearance of the ulnar nerve after completion of release.

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