Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Gyeong-Bo Sim; Chang-Wan Kim; Ji-Ho Sun; Jin-Sam Kim; Jae Myeung Chun; In-Ho Jeon

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2014.49.5.346

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Sim, Kim, Sun, Kim, Chun, and Jeon: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

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Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2014; 49(5): 346-354.

Published online: 30 October 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2014.49.5.346

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Gyeong-Bo Sim, M.D., Chang-Wan Kim, M.D., Ji-Ho Sun, M.D., Jin-Sam Kim, M.D., Jae Myeung Chun, M.D., In-Ho Jeon, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: In-Ho Jeon, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. TEL: +82-2-3010-3896, FAX: +82-2-488-7877, jeonchoi@gmail.com

Received 27 May 2014 Revised 10 July 2014 Accepted 10 July 2014

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Cubital tunnel syndrome is compressive neuropathy, entrapment of the ulnar nerve around the medial epicondyle of the elbow joint, and the second most common neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients complain of hypoesthesia or paresthesia in the ulnar half of the ring and small fingers early in the disease. Advanced disease is complicated by irreversible muscle weakness or atrophy and claw hand deformity of the ring and small fingers. Although traditional decompression and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is known as standard treatment, according to recent reports only simple decompression has a good outcome. So, variety of surgical treatment options are available. In this paper, we purpose to describe the causes, clinical features and recent surgical treatments of cubital tunnel syndrome.

Keywords: cubital tunnel syndrome, simple decompression, decompression with anterior transposition

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

The course of the ulnar nerve across the elbow. Note the potential sites of compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel syndrome. 1. Arcade of Struthers; 2. ulnar nerve; 3. medial intermuscular septum; 4. medial head of triceps; 5. medial epicondyle; 6. olecranon; 7. epitrochleoanconeus muscle; 8. osborne's ligament; 9. flexor carpi ulnaris; 10. ulnar collateral ligament.

Figure 2

Wartenberg sign.

Figure 3

Antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

Figure 4

The ulnar nerve is clearly identified in simple decompression.

Figure 5

Use of fascial sling for anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve.

Figure 6

Appearance of the ulnar nerve after completion of release.

Table 1

Articles about Results of Simple Decompression Comparing Decompression with Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

Table 2

Indication of Decompression and Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

Table 3

Articles about Results of Decompression with Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

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