Síndrome do Túnel Cubital Folheto

Esta página foi traduzida automaticamente e ainda não foi verificada por um médico. A versão em inglês é a versão oficial.

O que você está sentindo

Você pode notar formigamento ou dormência nos dedos anelar e mínimo. Este é frequentemente o primeiro sinal de que o nervo ulnar está sob pressão. O nervo passa por um canal estreito atrás do proeminência interna do cotovelo, conhecido como túnel cubital. Quando você flexiona o cotovelo, esse espaço diminui e o nervo se estica. Essa combinação de compressão e tensão pode irritar o nervo, causando o agravamento dos sintomas.

A dor nem sempre é o principal problema. No entanto, algumas pessoas sentem uma dor surda no cotovelo ou na parte superior do antebraço. O desconforto frequentemente piora quando você mantém o cotovelo flexionado por longos períodos. Você pode notar que os sintomas pioram à noite se dormir com os braços encolhidos. Isso também pode acontecer após atividades que exigem flexão prolongada, como segurar um telefone no ouvido ou ler um livro na cama.

À medida que a condição progride, você pode sentir fraqueza na mão. Isso pode tornar as tarefas diárias difíceis. Você pode ter dificuldade em segurar objetos firmemente ou achar difícil abotoar a camisa. Movimentos simples, como alcançar as costas para fechar um sutiã ou alisar a camisa, podem se tornar desafiadores. Em casos mais avançados, os músculos pequenos da mão podem atrofiar, levando a alterações visíveis na forma da palma da mão.

Homens com essa condição têm maior probabilidade de experimentar atrofia muscular do que mulheres. Se você teve síndrome do túnel carpal no passado, está em maior risco de desenvolver síndrome do túnel cubital. Por outro lado, se você tem síndrome do túnel cubital, também pode desenvolver síndrome do túnel carpal mais tarde. Seu cirurgião examinará sua mão e cotovelo para verificar a sensibilidade e a força. Eles procurarão sinais de irritação nervosa e determinarão o melhor caminho a seguir para o seu tratamento.

O que está realmente acontecendo

A síndrome do túnel cubital ocorre quando o nervo ulnar é comprimido ou esticado ao passar pelo cotovelo. Este é o nervo responsável pela sensação nos dedos anelar e mínimo. Ele também controla os pequenos músculos da mão. Devido à sua localização, este nervo está muito exposto. Ele corre próximo à pele na parte interna do cotovelo, o que facilita a irritação.

Pense no nervo como uma mangueira de jardim. Quando você flexiona o cotovelo, o espaço onde o nervo está localizado diminui. O osso dentro do seu cotovelo também empurra para dentro desse espaço. Isso comprime o nervo e o estica. Se você mantiver o cotovelo flexionado por muito tempo, essa pressão se acumula. Isso interrompe o fluxo sanguíneo para o nervo. É por isso que os sintomas geralmente pioram à noite ou quando você segura um telefone junto à orelha.

O nervo também pode sair do lugar. Ao flexionar o cotovelo, o nervo pode deslizar para frente sobre o osso. Isso é chamado de subluxação. Isso causa atrito e irritação adicionais. Com o tempo, esse atrito e compressão constantes danificam a camada protetora do nervo. Você pode sentir dormência ou formigamento na mão. Os músculos da mão podem ficar fracos. Em alguns casos, os dedos podem começar a parecer em garra.

A dor nem sempre é o principal problema. Você pode sentir uma dor surda no cotovelo ou no antebraço. A dormência geralmente piora antes de você notar fraqueza. Seu cirurgião analisa esses sinais para confirmar o diagnóstico. Eles verificam se você perdeu a sensibilidade na parte dorsal da mão. Isso os ajuda a determinar exatamente onde o nervo está preso.

Oferecemos várias formas de tratar isso. A maioria das pessoas encontra alívio com mudanças simples em seus hábitos diários. Podemos sugerir evitar longos períodos com os cotovelos flexionados. Se os sintomas persistirem, discutimos opções cirúrgicas. Esses procedimentos visam libertar o nervo da pressão. Eles podem ser realizados através de pequenas incisões ou com câmeras. O objetivo é interromper a compressão e permitir que o nervo se recupere.

O que podemos fazer a respeito

O Dr. Kieran Hirpara, cirurgião de membro superior do Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, aborda esta condição na nossa clínica com um plano claro e passo a passo. Os pacientes chegam à nossa clínica por referência do clínico geral ou fisioterapeuta. Uma avaliação clínica (histórico, exame físico e exames de imagem quando necessários) estabelece o diagnóstico. Para problemas degenerativos ou de longa data, geralmente tentamos o tratamento não operatório — alteração da atividade, fisioterapia ou terapia da mão, uso de órtese e injeções — e consideramos a cirurgia quando isso não proporcionou melhora suficiente. Para problemas estruturais ou agudos, a cirurgia pode ser recomendada imediatamente, sem uma tentativa prévia de tratamento não operatório.

Você pode começar alterando a forma como utiliza o cotovelo. Evite apoiar-se nele ou mantê-lo fletido por longos períodos. A fisioterapia visa manter o nervo deslizando suavemente e fortalecer os músculos ao redor da articulação. Geralmente sugerimos dar uma tentativa justa a esta abordagem antes de passar para tratamentos mais intensos.

Se a dor persistir, podemos discutir o manejo medicamentoso. Isso pode incluir medicamentos anti-inflamatórios para reduzir o inchaço ao redor do nervo. Em alguns casos, oferecemos injeções. Injeções de cortisona podem acalmar a inflamação e proporcionar alívio por algumas semanas a meses. Injeções de ácido hialurônico ou PRP (plasma rico em plaquetas) também são opções para apoiar a saúde dos tecidos. Esses tratamentos ajudam a gerenciar os sintomas, mas não corrigem a pressão subjacente sobre o nervo.

A cirurgia é considerada quando o tratamento conservativo atingiu seu limite e seus sintomas continuam a afetar sua vida diária. A operação envolve a liberação do tecido apertado que está pressionando o nervo ulnar. Esta etapa simples cria mais espaço para o nervo deslizar livremente. Discutimos todas as opções com você para garantir que a escolha se adapte às suas necessidades e estilo de vida específicos.

O que esperar

O seu prognóstico depende em grande parte da gravidade dos seus sintomas antes do tratamento. Se tiver uma compressão leve a moderada, a cirurgia frequentemente proporciona um alívio clinicamente relevante dos sintomas da mão. Muitos pacientes relatam que a dor e a função melhoram não apenas no cotovelo, mas também em áreas fora da distribuição do nervo ulnar. Isso significa que o uso geral da mão pode parecer mais fácil e menos doloroso.

Se tiver uma compressão grave ou de longa data, com atrofia muscular ou formigamento intenso, a cirurgia provavelmente impedirá que a condição piore. Pode melhorar os seus sintomas, mas pode não restaurar a força ou a sensibilidade ao normal. Nestes casos, o objetivo é deter a progressão e proporcionar um alívio útil, em vez de uma cura completa.

Para a maioria dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia primária, os resultados são bons. No entanto, se precisar de cirurgia de revisão porque os sintomas retornaram ou persistiram, o resultado é menos previsível. Embora muitos pacientes ainda experimentem melhora, a probabilidade de recuperação completa é menor do que com o tratamento inicial. Cerca de 23% dos pacientes alcançam alívio completo dos sintomas após a descompressão de revisão, enquanto 77% apresentam alguma melhora motora ou sensorial.

As complicações são geralmente incomuns. A taxa de complicações a curto prazo para a liberação in situ padrão é de 3,6%, comparada a 9,6% para a transposição do nervo ulnar. Infecções ocorrem em aproximadamente 2,17% dos casos. Cirurgia secundária é necessária em cerca de 5,7% dos pacientes no geral, com taxas mais altas para aqueles que tiveram trauma prévio no cotovelo ou foram submetidos à transposição.

Se não for tratada, os sintomas frequentemente persistem ou pioram. A intervenção precoce geralmente leva a melhores resultados funcionais. Atletas, particularmente lançadores por cima da cabeça, têm altas taxas de retorno ao esporte após a cirurgia, com 85% retornando à atividade e 72% retomando seu nível de desempenho anterior. O seu cirurgião discutirá qual caminho oferece o melhor equilíbrio entre alívio e risco para a sua situação específica.

Quando procurar um especialista

Procure uma avaliação especializada se notar formigamento ou dormência progressiva na mão ou nos dedos, especialmente no dedo anelar e no mindinho. Consulte o seu médico de família se sentir dor no cotovelo ou no antebraço que não melhore com o repouso. Procure atendimento se desenvolver fraqueza na preensão ou notar atrofia muscular na mão. Sintomas que interfiram no sono ou nas atividades laborais diárias também justificam avaliação. A avaliação precoce ajuda a prevenir danos nervosos permanentes. O seu cirurgião pode determinar se é necessária terapia conservadora ou cirurgia para aliviar a pressão sobre o nervo ulnar.


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)

References

[1] The Management of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.03.011

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