scholarly journals Simple in situ decompression for idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome using minimal skin incision

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
In-Ho Jeon ◽  
Ivan Micic ◽  
Byung-Woo Lee ◽  
Seong-Man Lee ◽  
Poong-Tak Kim ◽  
...  

Cubital tunnel syndrome is one of the most frequently occurring compression neuropathy in the upper limb next to carpal tunnel syndrome. Recent minimal invasive technique has prompted us to gain clinical experience with simple in situ decompression with minimal skin incision for idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome. Sixty six consecutive patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were treated using minimal skin incision technique. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 (range: 15-77) years and average follow up period was 23.9 months (range: 12-60 months). The severity of ulnar neuropathy was classified according to the McGowan classification: there were 17 in grade I , 47 in grade II and 2 in grade III. A preoperative nerve conduction study was done by inching method, which revealed motor conduction delay around the medial epicondyle. All operations were carried out in a day surgery unit under local anesthetics. The postoperative outcome was evaluated by Messina classification. The mean duration of the operation was 12 minutes. The technique was highly satisfactorily esthetic for all. Over 80% of the patients were completely satisfied with the procedure taking into consideration their symptoms. Postoperative outcome measures and patient satisfactions (pain, return to normal activities and work, scar and pillar tenderness) were comparable with published series of anterior transposition. The overall satisfactory results were recorded 81% in the patients of McGowan stage I and II. There were 2 cases of hematoma as a postoperative complication. This procedure is comparably effective alternative which involves less surgical trauma, morbidity and rehabilitation time with good surgical outcomes especially in mild and moderate degrees. Minimal skin incision is a simple, safe and effective method to treat patients with idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome.

2002 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 559-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. TANIGUCHI ◽  
M. TAKAMI ◽  
T. TAMAKI ◽  
M. YOSHIDA

Eighteen elbows in 17patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were treated by simple decompression using only a 1.5–2.5 cm skin incision with no endoscopic assistance. According to McGowan’s criteria, three elbows were classified preoperatively as grade I, six as grade II and nine as grade III. The mean follow-up period was 14 months (range 3–25). Clinical results were evaluated as excellent for four elbows, good for ten and fair for four. Improvement of symptoms occurred in all patients and dislocation of the ulnar nerve was not observed. Simple decompression through a small skin incision can be recommended for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome, if the indication is appropriate.


Hand Surgery ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (03) ◽  
pp. 329-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kensuke Ochi ◽  
Yukio Horiuchi ◽  
Toshiyasu Nakamura ◽  
Kazuki Sato ◽  
Kozo Morita ◽  
...  

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Gaspar ◽  
Patrick M. Kane ◽  
Dechporn Putthiwara ◽  
Sidney M. Jacoby ◽  
A. Lee Osterman

Hand ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-482
Author(s):  
Nicholas Kim ◽  
Ryan Stehr ◽  
Hani S. Matloub ◽  
James R. Sanger

Background: Cubital tunnel syndrome is a common compressive neuropathy of the upper extremity. The anconeus epitrochlearis muscle is an unusual but occasional contributor. We review our experience with this anomalous muscle in elbows with cubital tunnel syndrome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 13 patients noted to have an anconeus epitrochlearis muscle associated with cubital tunnel syndrome. Results: Ten patients had unilateral ulnar neuropathy supported by nerve conduction studies. Three had bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms with 1 of those having normal nerve conduction studies for both elbows. Eight elbows were treated with myotomy of the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle and submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve. The other 8 elbows were treated with myotomy of the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle and in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve only. All but 1 patient had either clinical resolution or improvement of symptoms at follow-up ranging from 2 weeks to 1 year after surgery. The 1 patient who had persistent symptoms had received myotomy and in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve only. Conclusions: An anomalous anconeus epitrochlearis occasionally results in compression of the ulnar nerve but is usually an incidental finding. Its contribution to compression neuropathy can be tested intraoperatively by passively ranging the elbow while observing the change in vector and tension of its muscle fibers over the ulnar nerve. Regardless of findings, we recommend myotomy of the muscle and in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve. Submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve may be necessary if there is subluxation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 451-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taskin Altay ◽  
Kamil Yamak ◽  
Şemmi Koyuncu ◽  
Cemil Kayali ◽  
Serkan Sözkesen

Background. In this study, we aim to evaluate clinical and functional results in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome who were treated with subcutaneous anterior transposition vs simple decompression of the ulnar nerve. Material and methods. Fifty-five patients were separated into two groups according to surgical technique. Group 1 comprised 35 patients (23 males, 12 females; mean age, 42.1 years; range, 28–56 years) who underwent anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve, whereas Group 2 included 20 patients (11 males, 9 females; mean age, 47.4 years; range, 25–59 years) who underwent simple decompression of the ulnar nerve. Results. The mean modified Bishop scores were 7.26 and 7.85 in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (P< .05). The mean Q-DASH scores were 16.94 in Group 1 and 15.80 in Group 2 (P> .05). Postoperatively, paraesthesia regressed in 17 (85.7%) and 30 (85%) patients in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (P> .05). Both groups demonstrated improvement in ulnar nerve function in comparison with the preoperative period, and ulnar nerve paralysis was not seen in any of our patients. A postsurgical incision scar developed in six (17.1%) and three patients (15%) in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Conclusion. Both simple decompression and anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve are effective and safe for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome, so we would favour simple decompression as it is a less extensive procedure.


Author(s):  
MB Alotaibi ◽  
B Yarascavitch ◽  
K Reddy

Background: Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most frequent upper extremity entrapment neuropathy. Various surgical approaches have been described in the literature for Ulnar nerve decompression, ranging from open In-situ decompression to endoscopic Ulnar nerve release. In this technical note we describe a new endoscopic approach for Ulnar nerve decompression. Methods: Four cadavers, a total of eight fresh arms were dissected using our new endoscopic technique. The technique involves a 2.5cm skin incision placed 2.5cm distal to the medial epicondyle, and perpendicular to the long nerve axis. Early identification of motor branches was achieved using this skin incision. Under endoscopic view using 30 degree rigid scope Ulnar nerves were decompressed Results: Early identification of motor branches was achieved using distally placed skin incision in all eight arms. Conclusions: The safety of identifying Ulnar nerve motor branches in the early steps of the procedure, and the avoidance of scar formation over the elbow joint are the proposed advantages of this approach. More clinical studies needed to validate this outcome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Raymond B. Kessler ◽  
Robert G. Thompson ◽  
Gary M. Lourie

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