Patients › Elbow
Sindrom ng Cubital Tunnel
Cubital tunnel syndrome causes ulnar nerve compression at the elbow — symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Ano ang nararamdaman mo¶
Maaaring karanasan mo ang sakit, pangangati, o pagkawala ng pakiramdam sa iyong ring at little fingers. Nangyayari ito dahil pinipisil ang ulnar nerve sa iyong siko. Ang kondisyong ito ay kilala bilang cubital tunnel syndrome. Ito ang pinakakaraniwang anyo ng entrapment para sa partikular na nerbiyong ito. Ito rin ang pangalawang pinakakaraniwang isyu ng nerve compression sa iyong itaas na braso.
Karaniwang lumala ang hindi komportableng pakiramdam kapag yumuyuko ka ng matagal sa iyong siko. Maaaring mapansin mo na ito ay lumalala kapag nakatulog ka na may nakabaluktot na braso. Maraming pasyente ang nakakakita na lumalala ang mga sintomas sa gabi o sa paggising. Maaaring mahirap na abutin ang likod ng iyong likod upang isara ang bra. Ang pagtutukoy ng isang shirt ay maaari ring mag-trigger ng sakit o kahinaan. Maaaring maramdaman mo ang isang pakiramdam ng kawalan ng katatagan o kakulangan sa iyong kamay.
Ang mga lalaki na may kondisyong ito ay mas malamang na mapansin ang pagkasira ng kalamnan sa kanilang kamay. Ito ay tinatawag na muscle atrophy. Ito ay mas kadalasang nangyayari sa mga lalaki kaysa sa mga babae. Ang kondisyong ito ay maaari ring makaapekto sa mga taong harapin ang kahirapan sa ekonomiya. Ang mga pasyenteng ito ay madalas na nangangailangan ng operasyon sa mas maagang edad kaysa sa iba.
Kung ang iyong mga sintomas ay mild o moderate, maaaring makabuti ka sa mga non-surgical na treatments. Ang karamihan ng mga pasyente sa mga antas na ito ng severity ay gumagaling nang walang operasyon. Gayunpaman, kung ikaw ay isang bata o teenager, ang kondisyong ito ay bihira. Ang non-surgical na treatment ay hindi malamang na lutasin ang mga sintomas sa mga mas batang pasyente.
Ang iyong surgeon ay talakayin ang iyong diagnosis batay sa probabilities imbes na certainties. Walang iisang test na kumpirmahin ang kondisyong ito na may 100% accuracy. Ang clinical evaluation ang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng diagnosis. Halos apatnapu porsyento ng mga pasyente na may provisional diagnosis ay may ibang nerve issue o normal na mga resulta ng test. Kung ang iyong mga sintomas ay severe, maaaring makabuti ka sa mas maagang referral para sa hand surgery evaluation.
Ano ang nangyayari talaga¶
Ang Cubital tunnel syndrome ay nangyayari kapag ang ulnar nerve ay pinipigilan o hinatak sa iyong siko. Ang nerbiyong ito ay tumatakbo mula sa iyong leeg pababa hanggang sa iyong kamay. Dadaan ito sa isang makitid na tunnel sa loob ng siko. Isipin mo ang tunnel na ito na parang mahigpit na manggas. Kapag lumitid ang espasyo sa loob nito, nawawalan ng kalayaan ang nerbiyong gumalaw.
Hindi simpleng bisagra ang iyong siko. Ito ay isang kumplikadong kasukasuan kung saan nag-iinteract ang mga buto at malambot na tisyu. Habang yumuyuko ka, nagbabago ang hugis ng iyong siko. Ang buto sa loob ng tunnel ay tumutulak sa espasyo, na nagpapalitid pa nito. Ang pagbabagong dinamikong ito ay naglalagay ng presyon sa nerbiyong iyon. Kahit hindi mo lubos na yumuyuko, maaari pa ring makasama ang paulit-ulit na pagyuko. Sa katunayan, ang paulit-ulit na bahagyang pagyuko ay maaaring mas makairita sa nerbiyong iyon kaysa sa paghawak nito nang tuwid o lubos na yumuko.
Kailangan ding dumulas nang maayos ang nerbiyong iyon habang gumagalaw ang iyong pulso at daliri. Kung magbabago ang posisyon ng iyong balikat, hihila ito sa nerbiyong iyon sa siko. Ang karagdagang tensiyong ito ay nagdadagdag ng strain sa isang sensitibong lugar na. Para sa ilang tao, ang karagdagang kalamnan o maluwag na ligamento ay nagdadagdag ng karagdagang presyon. Ito ay mas bihira, ngunit maaari nitong mas trapahin ang nerbiyong iyon.
Kapag pinipigilan ang nerbiyong iyon, hindi ito nakakapagpadala ng mga signal nang maayos. Ito ang nagdudulot ng pamamanhid, pangangati, o kahinaan na nararamdaman mo sa iyong ring at little fingers. Ang problema ay hindi lamang static na presyon. Ito ay kombinasyon ng pagpipigil, paghatak, at pagbaba ng daloy ng dugo patungo sa nerbiyong iyon. Ang pag-unawa dito ay tumutulong sa iyong surgeon na pumili ng tamang paggamot. Layunin ng operasyon na lumikha ng mas maraming espasyo para gumalaw nang malaya ang nerbiyong iyon.
Ano ang maaari naming gawin dito¶
Karamihan sa mga pasyenteng may mild o moderate na sintomas ay nakakahanap ng ginhawa sa pamamagitan ng conservative treatment. Ang iyong proseso ay karaniwang nagsisimula sa self-management at physiotherapy. Maaari kang payuhan na iwasan ang pagtutukod sa iyong siko o pagpapanatili nito sa nakabaluktot na posisyon sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Layunin ng physiotherapy na bawasan ang iritasyon at mapabuti ang galaw ng nerbiyo. Hindi malamang na matutugunan ng ganitong paraan ang mga sintomas sa mga pediatric at adolescent na pasyente, kaya ang mga bata ay maaaring kailanganin ng ibang landas. Bigyan ng patas na pagkakataon ang non-operative treatment bago isaalang-alang ang ibang mga opsyon.
Ang medical management ay nakatuon sa pagkontrol ng sakit at pamamaga. Maaaring irekomenda ng iyong surgeon ang gamot pang-sakit o anti-inflammatories upang matulungan kang pamahalaan ang iyong mga pang-araw-araw na gawain. Habang ang ebidensya ay hindi naglalarawan ng mga partikular na injeksyon tulad ng cortisone, hyaluronic acid, o PRP para sa kondisyong ito, tatalakayin ng iyong clinician kung ano ang angkop para sa iyong kaso. Ang layunin ay paitiinitin ang iritadong nerbiyo upang makapagpakilahin ka sa therapy. Tandaan na halos apatnapu porsyento ng mga pasyenteng may provisional diagnosis ay may ibang nerbiyong pathology o normal na nerve conduction study, kaya ang tumpak na diagnosis ay mahalaga bago magsimula ang gamutan.
Kung ang conservative care ay umabot na sa hangganan, maaaring isaalang-alang ang surgery. Epektibo ang surgery sa paggamot ng cubital tunnel syndrome, na may higit sa 90 porsyento ng mga pasyenteng nagpagaling o nagpakita ng pag-unlad. Walang konsenso tungkol sa iisang pinakamahusay na surgical treatment, at karamihan sa mga surgeon ay gumagamit ng higit sa isang operative procedure base sa iyong mga partikular na salik. Ang isang subset ng mga pasyente ay maaaring makakuha ng benepisyo mula sa mas maagang referral para sa hand surgery evaluation. Ang reoperation pagkatapos ng primary surgery ay nagbibigay ng sapat na resulta para sa mga nabigo sa conservative treatment. Tatalakayin ng iyong surgeon ang pinakamainam na paraan para sa iyo, na may pag-iisip na ang clinical evaluation ay pangunahin sa diagnosis.
Ano ang inaasahan¶
Ang cubital tunnel syndrome ay kadalasang dumadaloy nang dahan-dahan. Maaaring mapansin mo ang mga sintomas nang mas maaga kaysa sa isang taong may carpal tunnel syndrome, ngunit ang kondisyong ito ay may tendensyang umunlad nang mas dahan-dahan. Para sa maraming tao, ang kondisyong ito ay hindi kumikalma sa sarili. Isang subset ng mga pasyente ay maaaring makakuha ng benepisyo mula sa mas maagang referral para sa pagsusuri ng hand surgery at mas maagang operasyon. Makakatulong ito upang maiwasan ang pangmatagalang pinsala sa nerbiyos.
Ang operasyon ay karaniwang epektibo. Higit sa 90% ng mga pasyente ay gumaling o nagpakita ng pagpapabuti pagkatapos ng paggamot. Layunin ng iyong surgeon na bawasan ang presyon sa ulnar nerve. Ito ang nerbiyos na dumadaan sa siko. Maaaring matanggal ang mga sintomas sa isang extra-ulnar distribution pagkatapos ng cubital tunnel release. Maganda ang mga patient-reported outcomes, ngunit apektado ito ng kagambalan ng mga sintomas bago ang operasyon. Kung mayroon kang mga sintomas sa loob ng mahabang panahon, maaaring magkaroon ng iba't ibang pakiramdam ang paggaling kaysa sa isang taong may kamakailang paglitaw.
Ang mga komplikasyon ay bihira. Mababa ang mga rate ng short-term complication ng cubital tunnel surgery (3.2%). Gayunpaman, mas mataas ang mga rate na ito para sa mga pasyente na may chronic kidney disease. Magiging maingat ang iyong surgeon na iwasan ang mga hindi kinakailangang revision surgeries sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng malapit na pansin sa mga istruktura sa paligid ng siko.
Kung kailangan mo ng operasyon muli, ang mga resulta ay mas hindi maipapredict at mas hindi nakakatuwa kaysa sa primary surgery. Ang reoperation pagkatapos ng primary surgery ng cubital tunnel syndrome ay nagbigay ng masaganang resulta para sa mga pasyente na nabigo sa conservative treatment, ngunit hindi garantisado ang mga output. Sa kasalukuyan, walang konsenso sa pinakamainam na surgical treatment ng cubital tunnel syndrome. Pipiliin ng iyong surgeon ang isang paraan batay sa iyong partikular na anatomy at sa karanasan nila.
Ang paggaling ay dumadaloy nang dahan-dahan. Maaaring mapansin mo ang mas mabilis na pagpapabuti ng mga sintomas kung mayroon kang anomalous muscle sa iyong braso. Karamihan sa mga tao ay bumabalik sa normal na mga gawain habang bumababa ang sakit. Gayunpaman, walang malalaking pagkakaiba sa mga long-term outcomes pagkatapos ng open at retractor-endoscopic in situ decompression ng ulnar nerve sa cubital tunnel syndrome. Ang layunin ay ibalik ang function at bawasan ang discomfort. Sa tamang pag-aalaga, maaari kang mag-expect ng magandang kalidad ng buhay pagkatapos ng paggamot.
Kailan kumonsulta sa doktor¶
Kumonsulta sa iyong doktor kung mayroon kang patuloy na sakit na hindi gumagaling kahit magpahinga. Humingi ng pagsusuri ng espesyalista kung napapansin mo ang kahinaan o kawalan ng katatagan sa iyong kamay. Ang cubital tunnel syndrome ang pinakakaraniwang anyo ng pagkapit ng ulnar nerve. Ito rin ang pangalawang pinakakaraniwang sindrome ng pagpindot ng nerbiyo sa itaas na bahagi ng katawan. Maaari kang magpakita nang mas maaga sa pag-unlad ng iyong kondisyon kumpara sa mga pasyente na may carpal tunnel syndrome. Ang mga sintomas na nakakaapekto sa pagtulog o sa trabaho ay malinaw na senyales upang humingi ng tulong. Ang karamihan sa mga pasyente na may mild o moderate na sintomas ay nakikinabang sa conservative na paggamot. Gayunpaman, mahalaga ang klinikal na pagsusuri dahil madalas ay hindi sapat ang sensitibidad ng electrodiagnostic testing. Ang diagnosis ay dapat talakayin sa mga probabilidad imbes na tiyak na katotohanan.
Evidence & references
Overview¶
- Cubital tunnel syndrome involves related anatomy, clinical presentation, and current management options [1].
- A subset of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome may benefit from earlier referral for hand surgery evaluation and earlier surgery [2].
- Patient-reported outcomes of surgical treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome are good but are affected by preoperative symptom severity [4].
- Surgery is effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome, with more than 90% of patients cured or showing improvement [5].
- More rigorous scientific studies are needed to determine the most effective surgical approaches for cubital tunnel syndrome [6].
- A treatment algorithm has been proposed to provide clarity about the challenges of treating the complex patient population with cubital tunnel syndrome [7].
- There is currently no consensus on the best surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome [8].
- Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome requiring surgery is more common in deprived patients and occurs at an earlier age [12].
- Endoscopic cubital tunnel decompression has gained popularity, with early short-term results showing satisfactory outcomes and minimal complications [14].
- The selection of operative procedures for cubital tunnel syndrome is influenced by patient factors and surgeon preference, with most surgeons using more than one operative procedure [29].
Anatomy & Pathophysiology¶
- Definitions for the degree of ulnar nerve instability at the elbow are not uniformly agreed upon [28].
- With elbow flexion, the ulnar nerve did not move appreciably in the distal–proximal direction directly at the cubital tunnel [49].
- Maximal ulnar nerve excursion during elbow flexion occurs in the fatty region proximal to the elbow [49].
- The humeral trochlea protrudes into the cubital tunnel during elbow flexion, causing dynamic morphologic changes in the ulnar nerve [50].
- Tearing of the ulnar collateral ligament significantly increases elbow valgus laxity, which elongates the ulnar nerve during simulated throwing motion [51].
- Increased elbow flexion influences the intraneural blood flow of the ulnar nerve in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome [57].
- Exposure to lesser extraneural pressure by repetitive non-maximum elbow flexion might be more deleterious than maximum flexion pressure in cubital tunnel syndrome [55].
- Shoulder position changes the ulnar nerve strain around the elbow in living patients with cubital tunnel syndrome [56].
- The mechanism of symptom provocation by the elbow flexion test cannot be explained simply by dynamic pressure in the cubital tunnel, suggesting other pathophysiological factors contribute [58].
- Ulnar nerve gliding is most severe during passive wrist movement in elbow flexion and forearm supination [59].
- The study could not detect a definitive effect of elbow deformity (cubitus valgus/varus) on ulnar nerve strain or demonstrate the extent of acceptable clinical elbow deformity [61].
- The throwing elbow is a common source of nerve injuries due to the unique combination of anatomy, high forces, and sheer repetition associated with throwing sports [62].
- Dynamic ulnar nerve compression at the elbow due to the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle is an uncommon disorder with much remaining to be elucidated about its incidence and pathophysiologic mechanisms [64].
Classification¶
- Cubital tunnel syndrome is the most common form of entrapment of the ulnar nerve [18].
- Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common nerve compression syndrome of the upper extremity [18].
- Definitions for the degree of ulnar nerve instability at the elbow are not uniformly agreed upon [28].
- Further development of a classification system for ulnar nerve instability may be warranted to standardize treatment [28].
- High-resolution ultrasound (HRU) shows good correspondence to clinical and ENMG classifications in cubital tunnel syndrome [35].
- An intraoperative ulnar nerve subluxation classification system has promise in preventing adverse complications of ulnar nerve hypermobility after endoscopic cubital tunnel release [43].
Clinical Presentation¶
- Cubital tunnel syndrome is the most common form of entrapment of the ulnar nerve [18].
- Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common nerve compression syndrome of the upper extremity [18].
- Patients with cubital tunnel syndrome present earlier in the course of their disease than patients with carpal tunnel syndrome [3].
- Men with cubital tunnel syndrome are more likely to present with muscle atrophy than women [10].
- Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome requiring surgery is more common in deprived patients and occurs at an earlier age [12].
- The majority of patients suffering from cubital tunnel syndrome with mild or moderate symptoms benefit from conservative treatment [20].
- Cubital tunnel syndrome in pediatric or adolescent patients is rare [19].
- Non-operative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome in pediatric and adolescent patients is unlikely to resolve symptoms [22].
- There is no consensus reference standard for the diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome [11].
- Provocative tests for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome have inadequate or inconsistent sensitivity and specificity [11].
- Diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome should be discussed in terms of probabilities rather than certainties [11].
- Clinical evaluation is paramount in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome because electrodiagnostic testing often is not sufficiently sensitive to detect changes associated with the syndrome [17].
- Nearly forty percent of patients with a provisional diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome had either another nerve pathology or a normal nerve conduction study [21].
Investigations¶
- Provocative tests for cubital tunnel syndrome have inadequate or inconsistent sensitivity and specificity [11].
- There is no consensus reference standard for the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome [11].
- Diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome should be discussed in terms of probabilities rather than certainties [11].
- Electrodiagnostic testing is often not sufficiently sensitive to detect changes associated with cubital tunnel syndrome [17].
- Clinical evaluation is paramount in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome [17].
- Nearly forty percent of patients with a provisional diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome had either another nerve pathology or a normal nerve conduction study [21].
- Ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) measured by ultrasound is useful for the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome [47].
- Ulnar nerve CSA measured by ultrasound is most significantly different between patients and controls at the medial epicondyle [47].
- Power Doppler ultrasound has high predictive value for severe cubital tunnel syndrome defined by axonal loss [54].
- MRI is an effective diagnostic modality for identifying primary synovial chondromatosis as a causative factor of cubital tunnel syndrome [38].
- Only a small number of individuals with MRI evidence of an anconeus epitrochlearis muscle (AEM) had clinical evidence of ulnar neuropathy [48].
- Cubital tunnel decompression is associated with prior trauma to the anatomic site [53].
Treatment¶
Non-Operative Management¶
- The majority of patients with mild or moderate cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms benefit from conservative treatment [20].
- Non-operative treatment is unlikely to resolve symptoms in pediatric and adolescent patients [22].
Operative Management: General Principles and Selection¶
- There is currently no consensus on the best surgical treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome [8].
- Most surgeons use more than one operative procedure for cubital tunnel syndrome, with selection influenced by patient factors and surgeon preference [29].
- Surgery is effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome, with more than 90% of patients cured or showing improvement [5].
- None of the surgical techniques has demonstrated universal superiority above all others, but all appear to be effective [41].
- A subset of patients may benefit from earlier referral for hand surgery evaluation and earlier surgery [2].
- Reoperation after primary surgery provides satisfactory results for patients who fail conservative treatment [15].
- In situ decompression of the ulnar nerve is a reliable treatment with a low failure rate [40].
Operative Techniques: Decompression¶
- Simple decompression with a small skin incision yielded satisfactory results in 14 of 18 elbows with no postoperative dislocation of the ulnar nerve [32].
- Endoscopic and open in situ decompression techniques demonstrate similar effectiveness, outcomes, complication profiles, and reoperation rates for idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome [39].
- The patient-reported outcome of surgical treatment is good but is affected by preoperative symptom severity [4].
Operative Techniques: Transposition and Other Procedures¶
- Both minimal medial epicondylectomy and anterior subcutaneous transposition can be used for cubital tunnel syndrome with a high rate of satisfaction [37].
- Medial epicondylectomy is recommended for patients with cubital tunnel syndrome associated with abnormal nerve-conduction velocity [33].
- The procedure offers complete release of constricting structures while preserving blood supply to the nerve and allowing early postoperative elbow mobilization [25].
Operative Techniques: Specialized and Combined Procedures¶
- Bony encasement of the ulnar nerve secondary to heterotopic ossification of the elbow is treated with an approach that leads to superior range of motion, improved or resolved ulnar neuropathy, and good to excellent long-term functional outcomes [26].
- Dual endoscopic carpal and cubital tunnel release is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with concurrent syndromes recalcitrant to nonsurgical management [36].
Complications¶
- Surgery was effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome with more than 90% of patients cured or showing improvement [5].
- The short-term complication rates of cubital tunnel surgery are low (3.2%) [24].
- Short-term complication rates for cubital tunnel surgery are higher for patients with chronic kidney disease [24].
- Endoscopic cubital tunnel decompression shows satisfactory outcomes and minimal complications [14].
- Reoperation after primary surgery of cubital tunnel syndrome gave satisfactory results for patients who fail conservative treatment [15].
- Results of revision surgery for recurrent or persistent cubital tunnel syndrome are less predictable and satisfying than primary surgery [31].
- Poor outcomes and unnecessary revision surgeries for cubital tunnel syndrome can be avoided with intraoperative attention to 7 structures distal to the medial epicondyle [44].
Recovery¶
- Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome present earlier in the course of their disease than patients with cubital tunnel syndrome [3].
- A subset of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome may benefit from earlier referral for hand surgery evaluation and earlier surgery [2].
- The patient-reported outcome of surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome is good but is affected by preoperative symptom severity [4].
- Surgery was effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome with more than 90% of patients cured or showing improvement [5].
- Symptoms in an extra-ulnar distribution can resolve following cubital tunnel release [9].
- Reliable, reproducible, and valid outcomes measures are lacking from the surgical literature for cubital tunnel syndrome [13].
- Endoscopic cubital tunnel decompression shows satisfactory outcomes and minimal complications in early short-term results [14].
- Reoperation after primary surgery of cubital tunnel syndrome gave satisfactory results for patients who fail conservative treatment [15].
- The short-term complication rates of cubital tunnel surgery are low (3.2%), but higher for patients with chronic kidney disease [24].
- Treatment of bony encasement of the ulnar nerve secondary to heterotopic ossification leads to superior range of motion, improved or resolved ulnar neuropathy, and good to excellent long-term functional outcomes [26].
- There are no significant differences in long-term outcomes after open and retractor-endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome [30].
- Results of revision surgery for recurrent or persistent cubital tunnel syndrome are less predictable and satisfying than primary surgery [31].
- Patients with an anomalous muscle (AE) experience quicker symptom improvement after cubital tunnel release than those without the anomalous muscle [34].
Key Evidence¶
- [L5] This article reviews related anatomy, clinical presentation, and current management options for cubital tunnel syndrome with an emphasis on contemporary outcomes research. [1] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.03.011)
- [L3] A subset of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome may benefit from earlier referral for hand surgery evaluation and earlier surgery. [2] (10.1177/15589447211058821)
- [L4] Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome present earlier in the course of their disease than patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. [3] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2007.03.009)
- [L3] The patient-reported outcome of surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome is good but is affected by preoperative symptom severity. [4] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.05.014)
- [L4] Surgery was effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome with more than 90% of patients cured or showing improvement. [5] (10.1016/j.otsr.2014.03.009)
- [L4] More rigorous scientific studies are needed to determine the most effective surgical approaches for cubital tunnel syndrome. [6] (10.1007/s12178-020-09650-y)
- [L4] The purpose of this review is to summarize the most up-to-date literature regarding cubital tunnel syndrome and propose a treatment algorithm to provide clarity about the challenges of treating this complex patient population. [7] (10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.07.008)
- [L5] There is currently no consensus on the best surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. [8] (10.1016/j.ocl.2012.07.017)
- [L3] This study documents resolution of symptoms in an extra-ulnar distribution after cubital tunnel release. [9] (10.1007/s11552-014-9688-9)
- [L4] Men with cubital tunnel syndrome are more likely to present with muscle atrophy than women. [10] (10.1177/1558944716643096)
- [L4] There is no consensus reference standard for the diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and provocative tests have inadequate or inconsistent sensitivity and specificity; diagnosis should be discussed in terms of probabilities rather than certainties. [11] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2011.03.021)
- [L4] Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome requiring surgery is more common in deprived patients and occurs at an earlier age. [12] (10.1177/1753193420939384)
- [L3] Reliable, reproducible, and valid outcomes measures are lacking from the surgical literature for cubital tunnel syndrome. [13] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.05.010)
- [L5] Endoscopic cubital tunnel decompression has gained popularity with early short-term results being encouraging, showing satisfactory outcomes and minimal complications. [14] (10.1136/jisakos-2020-000506)
- [L4] Clinical evaluation is paramount in the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome because electrodiagnostic testing often is not sufficiently sensitive to detect changes associated with the syndrome. [17] (10.1016/j.hcl.2013.08.019)
- [L5] Cubital tunnel syndrome is the most common form of entrapment of the ulnar nerve and the second most common nerve compression syndrome of the upper extremity. [18] (10.1016/s0749-0712(21)00356-5)
- [L3] Cubital tunnel syndrome in pediatric or adolescent patients is rare and can be treated successfully with surgical intervention. [19] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.01.016)
- [L2] The majority of patients suffering from cubital tunnel syndrome with mild or moderate symptoms benefit from conservative treatment. [20] (10.1177/1753193408098480)
- [L4] Nearly forty percent of patients with a provisional diagnosis of CubTS had either another nerve pathology or a normal test. [21] (10.1016/j.jse.2020.01.064)
- [L4] Non-operative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome in pediatric and adolescent patients is unlikely to resolve symptoms. [22] (10.1016/s0363-5023(11)60063-4)
- [L4] The short-term complication rates of cubital tunnel surgery are low (3.2%), but higher for patients with chronic kidney disease. [24] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.01.020)
- [L5] The procedure offers complete release of constricting structures while preserving blood supply to the nerve and allowing early postoperative elbow mobilization. [25] (10.1016/s0749-0712(21)00325-5)
- [L4] This treatment approach leads to superior range of motion, improved or resolved ulnar neuropathy, and good to excellent long-term functional outcomes. [26] (10.1016/j.jse.2023.12.003)
- [L4] Most surgeons use more than one operative procedure in their treatment of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome and the selection of the operative procedure is influenced by patient factors and surgeon preference. [29] (10.1007/s11552-008-9133-z)
- [L3] There are no significant differences in long-term outcomes after open and retractor-endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome. [30] (10.1227/neu.0b013e3182846dbd)
- [L4] Results of revision surgery for recurrent or persistent cubital tunnel syndrome are less predictable and satisfying than primary surgery. [31] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2011.11.024)
- [L4] The technique yielded satisfactory results in 14 of 18 elbows with no postoperative dislocation of the ulnar nerve. [32] (10.1054/jhsb.2002.0821)
- [L4] The procedure is recommended for patients with cubital tunnel syndrome associated with abnormal nerve-conduction velocity. [33] (10.2106/00004623-198062060-00016)
- [L3] Patients with an AE experience quicker symptom improvement after cubital tunnel release than those without the anomalous muscle. [34] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.06.033)
- [L4] HRU proved to be an effective diagnostic tool for cubital tunnel syndrome and its etiologies, showing good correspondence to clinical and ENMG classifications. [35] (10.1016/j.otsr.2014.03.008)
- [L4] Preliminary data demonstrate that dual endoscopic carpal and cubital tunnel release is a safe and effective treatment option for patients who present with concurrent cubital and carpal tunnel syndromes recalcitrant to nonsurgical management. [36] (10.1007/s11552-013-9552-3)
- [L3] Both methods can be used for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome with a high rate of satisfaction. [37] (10.1016/j.jse.2005.10.007)
- [Case_report] MRI is an effective diagnostic modality, and clinicians should be aware of primary synovial chondromatosis as a causative factor of cubital tunnel syndrome. [38] (10.1177/1758573216683396)
- [L1] The current study demonstrates similar effectiveness between the endoscopic (ECTuR) and open (OCTuR) techniques for treatment of idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome with similar outcomes, complication profiles, and reoperation rates. [39] (10.1177/1558944715616097)
- [L4] In situ decompression of the ulnar nerve is a reliable treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome with a low failure rate. [40] (10.1177/1753193408101467)
- [L4] None of the techniques in this review has demonstrated universal superiority above all others, but all appear to be effective in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. [41] (10.3389/fsurg.2018.00048)
- [L4] Our preliminary report of patients shows satisfactory outcomes, which suggests that our intraoperative ulnar nerve subluxation classification system has promise in preventing adverse complications of ulnar nerve hypermobility after endoscopic cubital tunnel release. [43] (10.1016/j.jhsg.2020.05.001)
- [L5] Poor outcomes and unnecessary revision surgeries for cubital tunnel syndrome can be avoided with intraoperative attention to 7 structures distal to the medial epicondyle. [44] (10.1177/1558944718771390)
- [L1] The ulnar nerve CSA measured by US imaging is useful for the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), and is most significantly different between patients and controls at the medial epicondyle. [47] (10.1016/j.apmr.2017.08.467)
- [L4] Only a small number of individuals with MRI evidence of an AEM had clinical evidence of ulnar neuropathy. [48] (10.1016/j.jse.2018.03.021)
- [L5] With elbow flexion, the ulnar nerve did not move appreciably in the distal–proximal direction directly at the cubital tunnel, but maximal excursion was in the fatty region proximal to the elbow. [49] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.03.016)
- [L5] The humeral trochlea protrudes into the cubital tunnel during elbow flexion, causing dynamic morphologic changes in the ulnar nerve. [50] (10.1016/j.jse.2022.05.026)
- [L5] Tearing of the UCL significantly increased elbow valgus laxity, which in turn elongated the ulnar nerve during simulated throwing motion. [51] (10.1016/j.jse.2019.02.009)
- [L4] Cubital tunnel decompression is associated with prior trauma to the anatomic site. [53] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.07.009)
- [L3] Power Doppler ultrasound demonstrated high predictive value for severe cubital tunnel syndrome defined by axonal loss. [54] (10.1177/15589447221127334)
- [L4] The increased pressure in the cubital tunnel could still be important, as exposure to a lesser extraneural pressure by repetitive non-maximum elbow flexion might be more deleterious. [55] (10.3109/2000656x.2012.747962)
- [L4] To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that shoulder position changes the ulnar nerve strain around the elbow in living patients with CubTS. [56] (10.1016/j.jse.2015.01.014)
- [L3] Increased elbow flexion in patients with CuTS influences the intraneural blood flow of the ulnar nerve. [57] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.06.024)
- [L3] The mechanism of provocation of symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome by the elbow flexion test could not be explained simply by dynamic pressure in the cubital tunnel, and other pathophysiological factors could also be contributing. [58] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.11.013)
- [L4] Ulnar nerve gliding was most severe during passive wrist movement in elbow flexion and forearm supination. [59] (10.5397/cise.2024.00934)
- [L5] The study could not detect a definitive effect of elbow deformity on ulnar nerve strain or demonstrate the extent of acceptable clinical elbow deformity. [61] (10.1186/s12891-022-05786-9)
- [L5] The throwing elbow is a common source of nerve injuries due to the unique combination of anatomy, high forces, and sheer repetition associated with throwing sports. [62] (10.1016/j.csm.2004.04.012)
- [L4] Dynamic ulnar nerve compression at the elbow due to the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle is an uncommon, little-known disorder with much remaining to be elucidated about its incidence and pathophysiologic mechanisms. [64] (10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.11.002)
References¶
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