Symptomatic Idiopathic Ulnar Nerve Instability in the Elbow Diagnostic Considerations and 1-Year Outcomes After Anterior Transposition of Ulnar Nerve.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic idiopathic ulnar nerve instability (IUNI) in the elbow is an uncommon condition characterized by symptoms of ulnar neuritis resulting from frictional injury to the ulnar nerve from repetitive subluxation out of the cubital tunnel. This study reports the 1-year clinical outcomes after treatment of IUNI with anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. METHODS: This is a retrospective case study of five patients. Ulnar nerve instability was diagnosed clinically based on the presence of ulnar neuritis symptoms in combination with a positive "ulnar nerve push past" test. Electromyography (EMG) was performed on all patients. After failure of nonsurgical treatment, five patients underwent anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Clinical outcome scores and time to resolution of symptoms were recorded at a minimum follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 37.8 years (range: 18 to 57 years). The mean duration of symptoms prior to surgery was 15.7 ± 4.9 months. All five patients reported neuritis symptoms in the distribution of ulnar nerve in the hand and had ulnar nerve instability in the cubital tunnel on clinical examination. All patients were symptom free within 6 months after anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve.

Cubital tunnel syndrome and stroke coincide - adding insult to injury.

.

The Crossing Motor Ulnar Nerve Branch at Elbow.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common nerve entrapment, and understanding the anatomy is crucial for the success of the nerve release. During ulnar nerve release for cubital tunnel syndrome, a motor branch is frequently encountered crossing anteriorly over the ulnar nerve from its medial/ulnar side proximally to the lateral/radial side distally. Little has been noted about this crossing branch in the literature. In this anatomic study, we sought to characterize this branch further and discuss its potential significance in cubital tunnel release. METHODS: We performed a cadaveric dissection of 48 elbow specimens as if performing a cubital tunnel release. We assessed for the presence of the crossing motor branch of the ulnar nerve and measured the distance from the medial epicondyle to the branch takeoff and to its target of innervation. RESULTS: Of our 48 specimens, 34 (71%) were noted to have a crossing motor branch at the area of compression by the deep flexor carpi ulnaris muscle fascia (common aponeurosis). On average, the distance from the medial epicondyle to the branch origin from the ulnar nerve was 18.2 mm and to the target muscle innervation was 28.4 mm. CONCLUSION: Identifying this branch is important for performing a cubital tunnel release, and awareness of this anatomy during ulnar nerve decompression procedures may help avoid injury to this motor branch.

Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive cubital tunnel thread release: An experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is characterized by the compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel and can cause restrictions to the activities of daily living. Traditional treatment includes conservative methods and, in more severe cases, different types of surgery. In these cases, common side effects of surgery may limit the clinical success. A new alternative could be a minimally invasive Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) thread release of cubital tunnel retinaculum also known as the Osborne's ligament. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided thread cubital tunnel release (TCuTR) in an anatomical specimen model. METHODS: In this single-center prospective experimental study, US-guided thread cubital tunnel release (TCuTR) was performed on 11 softly embalmed anatomic specimens. Subsequently, the elbows were dissected to assess the transection of Osborne's ligament and potential damage to adjacent structures. RESULTS: Due to calcification, one specimen was ineligible for the intervention. In all remaining ten interventions, Osborne's ligament (OL) was completely transected, without any damage to the surrounding nerves, blood vessels, tendons, or muscles. CONCLUSION: US-guided decompression has demonstrated a high success rate in transecting Osborne's ligament while averting damage to neighboring structures. This emerging technique appears to present an efficient and secure alternative to existing procedures.

Subcutaneous Anterior Transposition With Modified Procedures to Prevent Recurrence Associated With the Transposed Ulnar Nerve.

Subcutaneous anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is a common surgical treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome. However, there are surgical failures associated with the new compressive sites at the edge of flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and resubluxation posterior to the medial epicondyle of the transposed nerve. To reduce the muscle volume at the edge of FCU, we approach the ulnar nerve by dividing the muscle belly of the FCU humeral heads. This procedure can reduce repeated traction forces on the transposed nerve at the edge of the FCU. To keep the transposed ulnar nerve anteriorly, we use a fat flap including the membranous superficial fascia. This flap can softly stabilize the ulnar nerve and act as a pliable cover to prevent perineural scarring or further constriction around the flap. Ninety-three elbows in 90 patients who had undergone this procedure for cubital tunnel syndrome were evaluated. According to Messina's criteria, the numbers of patients showing excellent, good, fair, and poor recovery were 41 (44%), 47 (51%), 5 (5%), and 0 (0%), respectively. Most patients experience resolution of symptoms and good functional outcomes. None of the patients suffered recurrence, infection, or nerve injury.

The relationship between diffusion tensor imaging and the clinical classification of cubital tunnel syndrome.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and the clinical classification of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). Ten patients with CuTS (7 men and 3 women; mean age: 52.7 years) and 5 patients without ulnar neuropathy (2 men and 3 women; mean age: 38.0 years) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Fifteen patients were clinically classified into three groups: "Normal", "1 and 2A", and "2B and 3" by an orthopedic surgeon using the modified McGowan stages. DTI was acquired using a 3.0-T MRI. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of the ulnar nerve was measured in slices covering 20 mm proximal to 20 mm distal to ulnar sulcus. Median FA values in each group were compared by Kruskal-Wallis and Steel-Dwass test (P < 0.05). Five patients with CuTS were classified as "1 and 2A" and five patients as "2B and 3". The FA values, proximal 12 mm to the ulnar sulcus were 0.486 ± 0.117, 0.425 ± 0.166 and 0.298 ± 0.0386 in the "Normal", "1 and 2A" and "2B and 3" groups, respectively. The FA values of patients classified as "Normal" were significantly higher than those classified as "2B and 3" (P = 0.0326 in Steel-Dwass test). FA proximal to the ulnar sulcus might be associated to the modified McGowan stages for the clinical classification of CuTS.

Volumetric assessment of ulnar nerves in cubital tunnel syndrome with 3D modeling of the MRI and its relationship with electrodiagnostic findings.

BACKGROUND: Thickened nerve cross-sectional areas (CSA) have been investigated in compressive neuropathy, but the longitudinal extent of nerve swelling has yet to be evaluated. We did a volumetric assessment of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) with three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modeling and investigated this relationship with clinical and electrodiagnostic parameters. METHODS: We compared 40 CuTS patient elbow MRIs to 46 patient elbow MRIs with lateral elbow epicondylitis as controls. The ulnar nerve was modeled with Mimics software and was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. The CSA and ulnar nerve volumes were recorded, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for diagnostic performance. We analyzed clinical and electrodiagnostic parameters to investigate their relationship with the 3D ulnar nerve parameters. RESULTS: For the diagnosis of CuTS, the area under the curve value was 0.915 for the largest CSA and 0.910 for the volume in the ROC curve. The optimal cut-off was 14.53 mm2 and 529 mm3 respectively. When electrodiagnostic parameters were investigated, the 3D ulnar nerve volume was significantly inversely associated with motor conduction velocity, although there was no association between the largest CSA and any of the electrodiagnostic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D ulnar nerve volume, which is an integration or multilevel measurement of CSAs, showed diagnostic usefulness similar to CSA, but it correlated better with conduction velocity, indicating demyelination or early-to-moderate nerve damage in CuTS.

Cubital tunnel release with Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique in an outpatient setting is safe and effective.

Ulnar nerve release is often performed under general anaesthesia. Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) is a new anaesthetic method increasingly used by hand surgeons in an outpatient setting. It has advantages such as the possibility to shift surgical interventions out of the regular surgical theatre settings into an outpatient clinical setting, no risk of complications or side effects resulting from regional and general anesthesia and decreased costs. The use of WALANT has not been investigated extensively in elbow surgery. This study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes after ulnar nerve release under WALANT 27 patients with ulnar nerve release for cubital tunnel syndrome were included. The primary outcome was the presence of (remaining) symptoms after ulnar nerve release. Data was extracted from medical records. 13 out of 27 patients had (mild) remaining symptoms after ulnar nerve release, and 1 complication (superficial wound infection) was seen. Ulnar nerve release under WALANT is safe and effective in patients with primary ulnar nerve entrapment that have failed conservative therapy.

The anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel in a South African body donor sample.

PURPOSE: The ulnar nerve (UN) courses through the cubital tunnel, which is a potential site of entrapment. Anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel may contribute towards cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), however, these are not well described. The aim was to compare the range of variations and dimensions of the cubital tunnel and the UN between sexes and sides of the body. METHODS: Sixty elbows from 30 embalmed bodies (17 males and 13 females) were dissected. The prevalence of the cubital tunnel retinaculum (CuTR) or anconeus epitrochlearis (AE) forming the roof of the tunnel was determined. The length, width, thickness, and diameter of the cubital tunnel and its roof were measured. The diameter of the UN was measured. RESULTS: The AE was present in 5%, whereas the CuTR was present in the remaining 95% of elbows. The tunnel was 32.1 ± 4.8 mm long, 23.4 ± 14.2 mm wide, 0.18 ± (0.22-0.14) mm thick, and the median diameter was 7.9 ± (9.0-7.1) mm, while the median diameter of the UN was 1.6 ± (1.8-1.3) mm. The AE was thicker than the CuTR (p < 0.001) and the UN was larger in elbows with the AE present (p = 0.002). The tunnel was longer in males (p < 0.001) and wider on the right (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The roof of the cubital tunnel was more frequently composed of the CuTR. The cubital tunnel varied in size between sexes and sides. Future research should investigate the effect of the variations in patients with CuTS.

State of the art review. Upper extremity revision nerve compression surgery.

Although surgical release of upper extremity nerve compression syndromes is highly effective, persistence or recurrence of symptoms and signs may occur. Thorough investigation is necessary in this situation before treatment is recommended. If the symptoms cannot be explained by other pathology than compression of the affected nerve and if conservative management has not provided improvement, reoperation may be considered. This review provides an overview of the diagnostic and surgical considerations in the revision of carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome.Level of evidence: V.

Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound-Assisted Precise Localization vs. Traditional Open Incision in Situ Decompression for the Treatment of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

AIM: To retrospectively analyze and compare ultrasound-assisted localization in situ with the traditional, open incision method for treating cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 51 patients treated between 2018 and 2022 and categorized them according to treatment method: ultrasound-assisted precise localization in situ decompression (n=21; Cohort 1) and traditional open incision in situ decompression (n=30; Cohort 2). We additionally collected Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores, modified Bishop scores, aesthetic appearance, preoperative Dellon's stage, and analgesics requirements. Additional dependent variables of interest included operation time, hospital stay duration, complications, and reoperation rate. RESULTS: Neither cohort demonstrated significant changes in Dellon's stage, modified Bishop score, or VAS scores between baseline and 6 weeks postoperative. Cohort 1 showed better aesthetics and postoperative VSS and VAS scores than Cohort 1. In addition, Cohort 1 enjoyed a significantly shorter mean operation time and hospital stay. Cohort 1 had 5 (23.80%) complications, including superficial infection (n=1), hematoma (n=1), and incomplete decompression (n=3). Cohort 2 had 9 complications (30.00%), including superficial infection (n=2), hematoma (n=2), and severe scarring (n=5). The partial, incomplete decompression cases in Cohort 1 and the severe scar case in Cohort 2 were treated with reoperation. CONCLUSION: Both procedures effectively treated most cases of CuTS and were associated with good postoperative outcomes. Patients who underwent ultrasound-assisted localization in situ decompression had shorter surgeries and hospital stays, better postoperative aesthetics, better VSS and VAS scores, and required less pain medication during the postoperative period. Traditional open incision in situ produced a more thorough decompression.

Round table discussion: the management of idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome.

Idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common neuropathy in the upper limb. Best evidence regarding the surgical management of this condition has evolved from anterior or submuscular transposition as the former reference standard, to in situ simple release. Differences of opinion remain regarding the timing of surgery, type of surgery and adjunctive surgery. Four surgeons with Level 5 expertise were asked to answer specific questions regarding this condition.

Electrodiagnostic severity does not predict short- to midterm outcomes of cubital tunnel release surgery.

HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of electrodiagnostic studies (EDS) to clarify their utility in clinical practice prior to cubital tunnel release surgery and to identify patient factors associated with patient-reported functional improvement after surgery. Our hypothesis was that patients with severe preoperative findings on EDS will tend to experience less functional improvement after surgery given the extent of ulnar nerve compressive injury. METHODS: Patients with cubital tunnel syndrome and preoperative electrodiagnostic data treated from 2012 to 2022 with cubital tunnel release were assessed regarding demographic information, preoperative physical examination findings, EDS findings, postoperative complications, and patient-reported outcomes. Short- to midterm quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (qDASH) scores were collected for all patients for further evaluation of preoperative EDS data. Patients were grouped into those who had met the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in delta qDASH at short- to midterm follow-up and those who did not. EDS data included sensory nerve onset latency, peak latency, amplitude, conduction velocity, as well as motor nerve latency, velocity, and amplitude. Electromyographic (EMG) studies were also reviewed, which included data pertaining to fibrillations, presence of abnormal fasciculation, positive sharp waves, variation in insertional activity, motor unit activity, duration of activity, and presence of increasing polymorphisms. RESULTS: Of the 257 patients included, 160 (62.0%) were found to meet the MCID for short- to midterm qDASH scores. There were no significant differences between patients who did or did not meet the MCID regarding baseline demographics, comorbidities, preoperative examination findings, and operative technique. Patients who met MCID tended to have lower complication (3.80% vs. 7.20%, P = .248) and revision (0.60% vs. 4.10%, P = .069) rates, but these findings were not statistically significant. The cubital tunnel severity as determined by the EDS was similar between cohorts (14.1% vs. 14.3%, P = .498). Analysis of EMG testing showed there were no significant differences in preoperative, short- to midterm qDASH, or delta short- to midterm qDASH scores for patients with or without abnormal EMG findings. Multivariate regression suggested that only age (P = .003) was associated with larger delta qDASH scores. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported preoperative disease severity may predict the expected postoperative change in ulnar nerve functional improvement, and EDS may not have prognostic value for patients undergoing cubital tunnel decompression. Therefore, physicians may suggest surgical treatment without positive EDS findings and still expect postoperative improvement in functional outcomes.

Force loss and distribution of load in the hands of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome.

Manugraphy with three different cylinder sizes was used to quantify the contribution of fingers, thumb and palm to grip force in patients with unilateral cubital tunnel syndrome. Forces in the affected and contralateral hands differed by up to 29%. Although grip force is usually maximal when gripping small handles, ulnar nerve palsy resulted in similar absolute grip forces using the 100-mm and 200-mm cylinders. The contact area between the affected hand and the cylinders was reduced by 5%-9%. We noted a high correlation between the contact area and grip force, visible atrophy and permanently impaired sensibility. The load distribution differed significantly between both hands for all cylinder sizes. When gripping large objects, the main functional impairment in cubital tunnel syndrome is weakness in positioning and stabilizing the thumb. Weak intrinsic finger muscles are responsible for loss of force when gripping small objects. Level of evidence: III.

Recurrence of ulnar tunnel syndrome: Long-term clinical and functional results of surgical management using revision neurolysis and subcutaneous anterior transposition.

OBJECTIVE: Recurrence after primary ulnar tunnel syndrome surgery is observed in 1.4%-25% of patients. However, the outcome of revision surgery is uncertain and limited. This study aimed to assess the clinical and functional outcomes of neurolysis combined with anterior subcutaneous transposition in cases of recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included patients who were operated on for iterative ulnar tunnel syndrome at the elbow between January 1996 and December 2020, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Demographic data, pre- and post-operative clinical evaluations, surgical details, and satisfaction levels were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 11.7 years (range, 2.1-26.4 years). The secondary procedure led to significant improvement in mean Quick-DASH score, from 25.3 (range, 11-50) to 20.0 (range, 11-49) (p = 0.023), with a satisfaction rate of 78.5%. Symptoms of pain (p = 0.033), amyotrophy (p = 0.013), hypoesthesia (p < 0.01), and paresthesia (p < 0.001) also showed significant improvement. There were 7 cases of failure (25.0%). CONCLUSION: The combination of neurolysis and anterior subcutaneous transposition was a reliable technique, improving clinical outcome in recurrent ulnar tunnel syndrome after previous surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV - retrospective study.

Ultrasound of the Ulnar Nerve: A Pictorial Review: Part 1: Normal Ultrasound Findings.

This is the first of a two-part article in which we focus on the ultrasound (US) appearance of the normal ulnar nerve (UN) and its main branches. The detailed US anatomy of the UN course is presented with high-resolution US images obtained with the latest-generation US machines and transducers.

Evaluation of Different Surgical Techniques for Revision Cubital Tunnel Release: A Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Symptoms.

PURPOSE: Controversy exists regarding the best option for revision surgery in refractory cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of revision surgery and determine the optimal surgical approach for patients requiring revision surgery for CuTS. METHODS: A literature search was conducted. Characteristics of the included studies were summarized descriptively. The risk ratio between patient-reported preoperative and postoperative outcomes relating to pain, motor, and sensory deficits was calculated. A meta-regression analysis was performed to evaluate the postoperative symptom improvements based on the type of secondary surgery. Random-effects meta-analysis and descriptive statistics were used when appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 471 patients were evaluated in 20 studies. In total, 254 (53.9%) male and 217 (46.1%) female patients, with an average age of 49.2 ± 14.1 years, were included in this study. Pain was the most common symptom (n = 346, 81.6%), followed by sensory and motor dysfunction in 342 (80.6%) and 223 (52.6%) patients, respectively. Meta-analysis comparing preoperative and postoperative symptoms between patients who had submuscular transposition (SMT), subcutaneous transposition (SCT), and neurolysis showed that a significant subgroup difference exists between the types of revision surgery in sensory and motor improvements. Meta-regression showed that SMT was associated with better outcomes compared with SCT in motor and sensory improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Revision surgery for CuTS can be useful for addressing recurrent and persistent symptoms. Compared with neurolysis and SCT, SMT seems to be the superior option for revision surgery, demonstrating substantial improvement in all symptom domains. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME DUE TO AN INTRANEURAL GANGLION CYST OF THE ULNAR NERVE.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common neuropathy of the upper extremity. Cubital tunnel syndrome caused by intraneural ganglion cysts is rare in clinical practice. We present the case of a 71-year-old male patient with a 4-month history of cubital tunnel syndrome of the left elbow due to an intraneural ganglion cyst. After revision of the ulnar nerve and resection of the intraneural cyst nearly complete recovery was achieved within a 5 month follow-up but some sensory deficits of the fifth fingertip. We recommend preoperative ultrasound examination of the cubital tunnel even in cases with clear diagnosis. Ganglion cyst as a cause of cubital tunnel is rare but needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent irreversible complications.

Comparison of in-situ release and submuscular anterior transposition of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome, previously treated with subfascial anterior transfer-A retrospective study of 24 cases.

BACKGROUND: Although cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common type of compressive neuropathy in the upper extremities, the indication and optimal surgical method for recurrent or refractory cubital tunnel syndrome remains controversial. This study evaluates the functional outcomes of revision surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL & METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational multicenter single-institution study including 660 patients who underwent surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome from 2010 to 2019. Among the 660 patients, 42(6.4%) received revision surgery due to remaining or recurrent symptoms confirmed with electromyography(EMG). After excluding those with concurrent elbow fracture, dislocation, osteoarthritis and wound infection, a total of 24 patients were included in the study. The patients were evaluated of disease severity, revision surgical method, time interval to recurrence, underlying diseases and postoperative functional outcomes. RESULTS: All patients received ulnar nerve subfascial anterior transposition for the initial cubital tunnel syndrome surgery. Among the 24 patients (3.7%) who received revision surgery, nine received in situ neurolysis, 12 received submuscular transposition, and three received subcutaneous transfer. 21 patients (88%) reported improved mean VAS score of 4.3, while three patients complained of remaining symptoms that did not improve even after revision surgery. The patients with remaining symptoms all had underlying diabetes mellitus and were treated with subcutaneous transfer. The difference of surgical outcomes between the in situ neurolysis group and the nerve transfer groups were non-significant (p = 0.23). The most common cause of recurrent or persistent symptoms was adhesion and fibrosis at sling area. The mean follow up period before revision surgery was 26.3 months and postoperative follow up period after revision surgery was 8.5 months. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study imply that in-situ neurolysis may be as effective as anterior submuscular transfer of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome after anterior subfascial transfer.