J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2005 Feb;29(1):63-69.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow in a Rural Population

• Jeon JY
• Ryu GH
• Sim YJ
• Lim HS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) in a rural district in Korea. METHOD: Among the 578 residents in a rural district who participated in the health examination, 450 (116 male, 334 female) adults were randomly selected. A symptom questionnaire and electrodiagnostic studies were used to diagnose UNE. General characteristics, female-related factors, work-related factors and anthropometric measurements were compared between normal and UNE group to identify the risk factors of UNE. RESULTS: Subjects with UNE were 29 (6.4%), symptom without electrodiagnosis findings 23 (5.1%), asymptomatic subjects were 379 (84.2%). Diabetes mellitus, repetitive heavy lifting were risk factors of UNE. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of UNE was 6.4% in a rural district and these data suggest that medical conditions like diabetes mellitus and physical factors like repetitive heavy lifting are risk factors of UNE.

Keyword

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow; Prevalence; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Adult
Diabetes Mellitus
Elbow*
Electrodiagnosis
Humans
Korea
Lifting
Male
Prevalence*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Risk Factors*
Rural Population*
Ulnar Neuropathies*
United Nations