Research reporting in cubital tunnel syndrome studies: an analysis of the literature

Abstract Background Various surgical options are used for the treatment of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow. In this study, anterior trans-muscular transposition of the ulnar nerve was used for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Objectives To evaluate the surgical results of anterior trans-muscular transposition technique for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome with particular emphasis on clinical outcome. Methods Forty patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were operated using anterior trans-muscular transposition technique. Patients were classified into post-operative clinical outcome grades according to the Wilson & Krout criteria, and they were followed up by visual analog scale (VAS), the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, electrophysiological study, and post-operative clinical evaluation. Results Forty patients with cubital tunnel syndrome who underwent anterior trans-muscular transposition of the ulnar nerve show a significant clinical improvement at 24 months post-surgery regarding visual analog scale (VAS), the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, electrophysiological study, and the Wilson & Krout grading as 87.5% of the patients recorded excellent and good outcome. Conclusion Anterior transmuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve is a safe and effective treatment for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.

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Evaluation of PROMIS Outcomes for Surgical Treatment of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome With and Without Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hand ◽

10.1177/15589447211028921 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155894472110289

Author(s):

Amy Phan ◽

Warren Hammert

Keyword(s):

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Postoperative Period ◽

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Cubital Tunnel ◽

Measurement Information ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Measurement Information System

Background: Assessment of outcomes for cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) surgeries has been difficult due to heterogeneity in outcome reporting. Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes for 2 cohorts treated surgically for isolated CuTS and for combined CuTS and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Methods: There were 29 patients in the isolated CuTS cohort and 30 patients in the combined CuTS and CTS cohort. PROMIS Physical Function (PF), Pain Interference (PI), Depression, and Upper Extremity (UE) were completed preoperatively and 1-week, 6-weeks, and 3-months postoperatively. Responsiveness was evaluated by standardized response means (SRM). Results: Significant improvements from the 1-week to 6-week postoperative period are shown in the isolated CuTS cohort for PROMIS PF ( P = .002), PI ( P = .0002), and UE ( P = .02), but scores plateau after 6-weeks postoperatively. A similar pattern for the same time points was seen for the combined CuTS and CTS group for PROMIS PF ( P = .001), PI ( P = .02), and UE ( P = .04), with a plateau of scores beyond 6 weeks postoperatively. PROMIS UE was more responsive (SRM range: 0.11-1.03) than the PF (SRM range: 0.02-0.52) and PI (SRM range: 0.11-0.40), which were both mildly responsive for both cohorts. Conclusions: PROMIS lacks the sensitivity to show improvement beyond 6-weeks postoperatively for both isolated CuTS and combined CuTS and CTS. Patients with combined nerve compressions follow similar trajectories in the postoperative period as those with isolated CuTS. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

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The association between surgery for carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome: analysis of incidence and risk factors within a geographical area

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1177/1753193420980983 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 260-264

Author(s):

Nick A. Johnson ◽

Oliver Darwin ◽

Dimitrious Chasiouras ◽

Anna Selby ◽

Chris Bainbridge

Keyword(s):

Relative Risk ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Cubital Tunnel ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

The Relationship ◽

Syndrome Analysis

The relationship between surgery for cubital tunnel and carpal tunnel syndrome was examined in this retrospective study. Between 1997 and 2018, data from consecutive patients who underwent carpal tunnel release (8352 patients), cubital tunnel release (1681 patients) or both procedures (692 patients) were analysed. The relative risk of undergoing cubital tunnel release in the population who had carpal tunnel release compared with those with no carpal tunnel release was 15.3 (male 20.3; female 12.5). The relative risk of undergoing carpal tunnel release in the population who had cubital tunnel release compared with those who did not undergo carpal tunnel release was 11.5 (male 16.5; female 9.1). Our study showed that men and women who undergo carpal tunnel release are over 20 times and 10 times more likely to have cubital tunnel release than those who did not undergo carpal tunnel release, respectively. These findings suggest that the two conditions may share a similar aetiology. Level of evidence: IV

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CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND THE PAINFUL UPPER EXTREMITY

Hand Clinics ◽

10.1016/s0749-0712(21)00356-5 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 665-677 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Marc Tetro ◽

David R. Pichora

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Cubital Tunnel ◽

Tunnel Syndrome

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ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ULNAR NERVE STRAIN AND ACCOMPANYING CONDITIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Hand Surgery ◽

10.1142/s0218810414500233 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (03) ◽

pp. 329-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kensuke Ochi ◽

Yukio Horiuchi ◽

Toshiyasu Nakamura ◽

Kazuki Sato ◽

Kozo Morita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Severity ◽

Ulnar Nerve ◽

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Cubital Tunnel ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

The Mean ◽

Simple Decompression

Pathophysiology of cubital tunnel syndrome (CubTS) is still controversial. Ulnar nerve strain at the elbow was measured intraoperatively in 13 patients with CubTS before simple decompression. The patients were divided into three groups according to their accompanying conditions: compression/adhesion, idiopathic, and relaxation groups. The mean ulnar nerve strain was 43.5 ± 30.0%, 25.5 ± 14.8%, and 9.0 ± 5.0% in the compression/adhesion, idiopathic, and relaxation groups respectively. The mean ulnar nerve strains in patients with McGowan's classification grades I, II, and III were 18.0 ± 4.2%, 27.1 ± 22.7%, and 33.7 ± 24.7%, respectively. The Jonckheere-Terpstra test showed that there were significant reductions in the ulnar nerve strain among the first three groups, but not in the three groups according to McGowan's classification. Our results suggest that the pathophysiology, not disease severity, of CubTS may be explained at least in part by the presence of ulnar nerve strain.

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