Sindrom ng Cubital Tunnel Impormasyon

Ang pahinang ito ay isinalin ng makina at hindi pa nasusuri ng isang doktor. Ang bersyong Ingles ang siyang opisyal.

Ano ang nararamdaman mo

Maaaring mapansin mo ang pamamanhid o pangangati sa iyong ring at little fingers. Ito ay madalas na unang senyales na ang ulnar nerve ay nasa ilalim ng presyon. Ang nerbiyong ito ay dumadaan sa isang makitid na daanan sa likod ng loob na buto ng iyong siko, na kilala bilang cubital tunnel. Kapag yumuko ka ng iyong siko, lumiliit ang espasyong ito at natatanggal ang nerbiyong ito. Ang kombinasyon ng kompresyon at tensyon na ito ay maaaring mag-irita sa nerbiyong ito, na nagdudulot ng paglala ng mga sintomas.

Ang sakit ay hindi laging ang pangunahing isyu. Gayunpaman, may ilang tao ang nakakaramdam ng pananakit sa siko o sa itaas na bahagi ng forearm. Ang hindi komportableng pakiramdam ay madalas na lumalala kapag nanatiling yumuko ang iyong siko sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Maaaring mapansin mo na lumalala ang mga sintomas sa gabi kung ikaw ay matutulog na may nakabaluktot na mga braso. Maaari rin itong mangyari pagkatapos ng mga gawain na nangangailangan ng matagal na pag-yuko, tulad ng paghawak ng telepono sa tainga o pagbabasa ng libro sa kama.

Habang umuunlad ang kondisyon, maaaring mararamdaman mo ang kahinaan sa iyong kamay. Ito ay maaaring magpahirap sa mga pang-araw-araw na gawain. Maaaring mahirapan kang hawakan nang mahigpit ang mga bagay o mahirapan mong i-button ang iyong kamiseta. Ang mga simpleng galaw, tulad ng pag-abot sa likod ng iyong likod upang i-fasten ang bra o pagtupi ng kamiseta, ay maaaring maging hamon. Sa mas advanced na mga kaso, ang mga maliit na kalamnan sa iyong kamay ay maaaring mag-shrink, na nagdudulot ng makikitang pagbabago sa hugis ng iyong palad.

Ang mga lalaki na may kondisyong ito ay mas malamang na maranasan ang muscle wasting kaysa sa mga babae. Kung mayroon ka nang nakaraang carpal tunnel syndrome, mas mataas ang iyong risk na makakuha ng cubital tunnel syndrome. Sa kabaligtaran, kung mayroon kang cubital tunnel syndrome, maaari ka ring makakuha ng carpal tunnel syndrome sa huli. Susuriin ng iyong surgeon ang iyong kamay at siko upang suriin ang pakiramdam at lakas. Titingnan nila ang mga senyales ng nerbiyong iritasyon at itatakda ang pinakamainam na landas para sa iyong paggamot.

Ano ang nangyayari talaga

Ang cubital tunnel syndrome ay nangyayari kapag ang ulnar nerve ay pinipiga o hinahabulan habang dumadaan ito sa siko. Ang nerbiyong ito ang nagbibigay ng pakiramdam sa iyong ring finger at little finger. Kontrolado nito rin ang mga maliit na kalamnan sa iyong kamay. Dahil sa kanyang lokasyon, napakabulag-blagan ng nerbiyong ito. Dumadaan ito malapit sa balat sa loob ng iyong siko, kaya madali itong mag-irritate.

Isipin mo ang nerbiyong parang hose sa hardin. Kapag yumuko ka, bumababa ang espasyo kung saan nakalagay ang nerbiyong ito. Ang buto sa loob ng iyong siko ay sumisiksik din sa espasyong ito. Pinipiga nito ang nerbiyong ito at hinahabulan ito. Kung mananatili kang yumuko nang matagal, tumitipon ang presyur. Binabawasan nito ang daloy ng dugo patungo sa nerbiyong ito. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mas lalong bumabagabag ang mga sintomas sa gabi o kapag hawak mo ang telepono sa iyong tainga.

Maaari ring lumipat ang nerbiyong ito mula sa kanyang tamang posisyon. Habang yumuko ka, maaaring umunlad ang nerbiyong ito sa harap ng buto. Tinatawag itong subluxation. Nagdudulot ito ng karagdagang friction at irritation. Sa paglipas ng panahon, ang patuloy na pagkiskis at pagpipiga ay nakakasira sa protektibong coating ng nerbiyong ito. Maaaring mararamdaman mo ang numbness o tingling sa iyong kamay. Maaaring mahina ang mga kalamnan sa iyong kamay. Sa ilang kaso, maaaring magsimulang mukhang claw-like ang iyong mga daliri.

Hindi palaging ang sakit ang pangunahing isyu. Maaaring mararamdaman mo ang sakit sa iyong siko o forearm. Karaniwang lumalala ang numbness bago mo mapansin ang kahinaan. Tinitingnan ng iyong surgeon ang mga senyales na ito upang kumpirmahin ang diagnosis. Sinusuri nila kung nawalan ka ng pakiramdam sa likod ng iyong kamay. Nakakatulong ito upang matukoy nila kung saan eksaktong nahuhuli ang nerbiyong ito.

Nag-aalok kami ng iba't ibang paraan ng paggamot. Karamihan sa mga tao ay nakakahanap ng ginhawa sa simpleng pagbabago sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na ugali. Maaari naming imungkahi na iwasan ang mahabang panahon ng pag-yuko ng siko. Kung patuloy pa rin ang mga sintomas, tatalakayin namin ang mga opsyon sa operasyon. Layunin ng mga prosedurang ito na palayain ang nerbiyong ito mula sa presyur. Maaari itong gawin sa pamamagitan ng maliliit na putol o gamit ang mga kamera. Ang layunin ay itigil ang pagpipiga at hayaang magpagaling ang nerbiyong ito.

Ano ang maaari naming gawin para dito

Si Dr. Kieran Hirpara, isang surgeon sa upper-limb sa Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, ay humaharap sa kondisyong ito sa aming klinika gamit ang malinaw at hakbang-hakbang na plano. Dumadating ang mga pasyente sa aming klinika sa pamamagitan ng referral mula sa GP o physiotherapist. Isang pagsusuri sa klinika (kasaysayan, pagsusuri, at pag-imaging kung kinakailangan) ang nagtatatag ng diagnosis. Para sa mga degenerative o matagal nang problema, karaniwan naming sinusubukan ang non-operative care — pagbabago sa aktibidad, physiotherapy o hand therapy, paggamit ng splint, at mga injeksyon — at pinag-aaralan ang operasyon kapag hindi ito nagbigay ng sapat na pagpapabuti. Para sa mga structural o acute na problema, maaaring irekomenda ang operasyon agad-agad, nang walang nakaraang non-operative trial.

Maaari kang magsimula sa pagbabago ng paraan ng paggamit ng iyong siko. Iwasan ang pagtindig dito o pagpapanatili nito sa nakabaluktot na posisyon sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Layunin ng physiotherapy na panatilihin ang nerve na gumagalaw nang maayos at palakasin ang mga kalamnan sa paligid ng joint. Karaniwan naming inirerekomenda na bigyan ng patas na trial ang pamamaraang ito bago lumipat sa mas malakas na mga gamot.

Kung patuloy ang sakit, maaaring talakayin namin ang medical management. Maaari itong kabilang ang mga anti-inflammatory na gamot upang bawasan ang pamamaga sa paligid ng nerve. Sa ilang kaso, inaalok namin ang mga injeksyon. Ang mga cortisone injection ay maaaring paiti ang pamamaga at magbigay ng ginhawa sa loob ng ilang linggo hanggang buwan. Ang mga hyaluronic acid o PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection ay mga opsyon din upang suportahan ang kalusugan ng tissue. Ang mga treatment na ito ay tumutulong sa pamamahala ng mga sintomas ngunit hindi nag-aayos ng pangunahing pressure sa nerve.

Ang operasyon ay isinasaalang-alang kapag naabot na ng conservative care ang hangganan nito at patuloy na nakakaapekto ang iyong mga sintomas sa iyong pang-araw-araw na buhay. Ang operasyon ay kinabibilangan ng pagpapalaya ng masikip na tissue na pumipindot sa ulnar nerve. Ang simpleng hakbang na ito ay lumilikha ng mas maraming espasyo para sa nerve na gumalaw nang malaya. Talakayin namin ang lahat ng mga opsyon sa iyo upang matiyak na ang pagpili ay angkop sa iyong partikular na pangangailangan at istilo ng buhay.

Ano ang inaasahan

Ang iyong prognosis ay nakadepende sa malaking bahagi sa kung gaano kahalaga ang iyong mga sintomas bago ang paggamot. Kung mayroon kang mild hanggang moderate na compression, madalas na nagdudulot ang operasyon ng clinically relevant na pagpapagaan ng mga sintomas sa kamay. Maraming pasyente ang nakakakita na ang sakit at function ay umuunlad, hindi lamang sa siko, kundi pati na rin sa mga lugar na nasa labas ng distribution ng ulnar nerve. Ibig sabihin, mas madali at mas kaunti ang sakit sa iyong pangkalahatang paggamit ng kamay.

Kung mayroon kang severe o long-standing na compression, kasama ang muscle wasting o dense numbness, malamang na hahinto ng operasyon ang kondisyon mula sa paglala. Maaari nitong pagbutihin ang iyong mga sintomas, ngunit maaaring hindi na nito ibabalik ang iyong lakas o pakiramdam sa normal. Sa mga kaso na ito, ang layunin ay pigilan ang pag-unlad at magbigay ng kapaki-pakinabang na pagpapagaan imbes na isang ganap na paggaling.

Para sa karamihan ng mga pasyente na nagsasagawa ng primary surgery, ang mga resulta ay maganda. Gayunpaman, kung kailangan mong magkaroon ng revision surgery dahil bumalik o nanatili ang mga sintomas, ang resulta ay mas hindi maipredikto. Habang maraming pasyente ang nakakakita pa rin ng pagpapabuti, mas mababa ang tsansang magkaroon ng ganap na paggaling kumpara sa unang paggamot. Humigit-kumulang 23% ng mga pasyente ang nakakamit ng ganap na pagpapagaan ng sintomas pagkatapos ng revision decompression, habang 77% ay nakakakita ng ilang motor o sensory na pagpapabuti.

Ang mga komplikasyon ay karaniwang bihira. Ang short-term complication rate para sa standard in situ release ay 3.6%, kumpara sa 9.6% para sa ulnar nerve transposition. Ang mga impeksyon ay nangyayari sa humigit-kumulang 2.17% ng mga kaso. Ang secondary surgery ay kinakailangan sa humigit-kumulang 5.7% ng mga pasyente sa kabuuan, na may mas mataas na mga rate para sa mga taong mayroong nakaraang trauma sa siko o nagsagawa ng transposition.

Kung hindi ito gagamutin, madalas na nananatili o lumalala ang mga sintomas. Ang maagang interbensyon ay karaniwang nagdudulot ng mas magandang mga functional na resulta. Ang mga atleta, partikular ang mga overhead throwers, ay may mataas na mga rate ng pagbabalik sa isports pagkatapos ng operasyon, na may 85% na bumabalik sa aktibidad at 72% na nagpapatuloy sa kanilang nakaraang antas ng pagganap. Ang iyong surgeon ay talakayin kung aling landas ang nag-aalok ng pinakamainam na balanse ng pagpapagaan at panganib para sa iyong partikular na sitwasyon.

Kailan kumonsulta sa doktor

Humingi ng pagsusuri ng espesyalista kung mapansin mong lumalala ang pamamanhid sa iyong kamay o mga daliri, lalo na sa daliring pang-apat at maliit. Pumunta sa iyong doktor kung ikaw ay nakakaranas ng sakit sa siko o forearms na hindi nawawala kahit pahinga. Maghanap ng medikal na tulong kung ikaw ay nakakaranas ng kahinaan sa iyong hawak o mapansin mong pagkasira ng kalamnan sa iyong kamay. Ang mga sintomas na nakakaapekto sa pagtulog o sa araw-araw na trabaho ay dapat din suriin. Ang maagang pagsusuri ay tumutulong na maiwasan ang permanenteng pinsala sa nerbiyos. Ang iyong surgeon ay makakapagdesisyon kung kailangan ng konservatibong terapiya o operasyon upang bawasan ang presyon sa ulnar nerve.


Evidence & references

This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.

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].
  • 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

  • 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].
  • 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

  • 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].
  • 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].
  • 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].
  • The patient-reported outcome of surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome is good but is affected by preoperative symptom severity [4].
  • 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].
  • 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].
  • 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)

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