Clin Should Elbow.  2011 Dec;14(2):207-213.

Clinical Outcomes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome after Transmuscular Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

• Cha SM
• Kim KC
• Kang DH
• Shin HD

Abstract

PURPOSE
To retrospectively analyze the clinical results of the cubital tunnel syndrome after ulnar nerve transmuscular anterior transposition according to the severity of the disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 2003 to December 2008, the 94 cases that underwent ulnar nerve anterior transposition using modified Mackinnon method after diagnosed as cubital tunnel syndrome were enrolled for this study. The severity of each cases was classified using McGowan classification before surgery, and were divided into grade I of 35 cases (group 1), grade II of 37 cases (group 2), and grade III of 22 cases (group 3).
RESULTS
All groups showed significant degree of pain improvement, and which was more statistically significant in group 1 and 2 compared to group 3. All groups showed significant degree of sensory function improvement. The degree showed no difference between group 1 and 2, and 2 and 3, however, group 1 showed higher degree of improvement compared to group 3. All groups showed significant degree of motor function improvement, and which showed no difference between group 1 and 2, and compared to group 3, group 1 and 2 showed significant improvement of disease severity (p<0.05). In evaluation using Akahori classification after surgery, 28 cases in group 1 (80%), 27 cases in group 2 (73%), and 13 cases in group 3 (59%) showed results of "good" or "excellent". In the whole group, the age and Akahori classification after surgery showed significant negative correlation (p<0.05, r=-0.512).
CONCLUSION
In the retrospective analysis regarding the cubital tunnel syndrome using modified Mackinnon method, postoperative pain, sensory, and motor function was improved compared to which before surgery, however, the degree of improvement decreased as the disease was more severe. Especially, as the age is older, the degree of improvement more decreases.

MeSH Terms

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Pain, Postoperative
Retrospective Studies
Sensation
Ulnar Nerve