Online ISSN: 2515-8260

Ulnar Nerve Entrapment InCubital Tunnel: Transposition Versus Decompression Alone

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Randa Abd Eldayem A. Said, Magdy El-Sayed Rashed, Hosni Hassan Salama and Ibrahim Metwally Abdel Fattah

Abstract

Background: Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is the second most common compression neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Surgery is usually necessary to treat chronic neuropathy associated with muscle weakness or neuropathy that does not respond to conservative measures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate patientreported and surgeon-evaluated outcome of ulnar nerve entrapment in cubital tunnel decompression versus transposition.Patients and Methods: The study was conducted at Neurosurgery Department, Zagazig University Hospitals on 18 ulnar nerve entrapment patients 9 cases undergone simply decompression operation and 9 cases undergone transposition operation.All cases were subjected to medical records of all cases, clinical diagnosis and Electrodiagnostic tests. Postoperative outcome was assessed and graded, based on patient-reported and surgeon-evaluated outcome, into four groups: cured, improved, unchanged or exacerbated Results:88.9% of the decompression group shows full motor power (FMP) postoperatively while this was shown in 44.4% of transposition group with no significant difference(P<0.05) between the two groups.All patients of both groups show postoperative improved sensory manifestations. There was highly significant difference (p<0.05) between the two studied groups regarding postoperative nerve conduction velocity NCV as it was higher in decompression group than transposition group (57.28±2.5 vs. 54.18±3.35)m/s. while there was no significant difference between them regarding nerve thickness by ultrasound.Conclusion:Perioperative assessment of ulnar nerve subluxation at primary surgery for UNE should be routine and, if found, an ulnar nerve transposition should be performed in the same surgical session, to minimize the need for revision surgery.

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