Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Paradox in the cubital tunnel syndrome—frequent involvement of left elbow: first report

  • Clinical Article - Spine
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is the second most common compression neuropathy in the arm, but the existence of a compressive cause has not been determined conclusively and the majority of the cases are idiopathic. In this paper, involvement sides of limbs of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were studied.

Material and methods

Between October 2008 and December 2011, the clinical assessment of consecutive operated patients with cubital tunnel syndrome in Rize Education and Research Hospital were analysed. The diagnosis and severity of syndrome was based on electro-diagnostic study.

Results

This study included 57 consecutive patients with cubital tunnel syndrome (39 men, 18 women; mean age, 44,7 years; range, 23–79 years; mean age, 44,7 years; range, 23–79 years); 31 patients underwent surgical treatment. Involvement was on the right side in 18 and on the left in 39 patients. Severity scores and MCV were statistically significant between sides.

Conclusion

Profound involvement with cubital tunnel was found in left elbow. According to the finding of non-dominant elbow involvement in our study, the exact etiology and ideal management of cubital tunnel syndrome continues to be heavily debated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CuTS:

Cubital tunnel syndrome

MCV:

Motor conduction velocity

References

  1. Artico M, Pastore FS, Nucci F, Giuffre R (2000) 290 surgical procedures for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow: physiopathology, clinical experience and results. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 142(3):303–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bartels RH, Verbeek AL (2007) Risk factors for ulnar nerve compression at the elbow: a case control study. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 149(7):669–674

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Calisaneller T, Ozdemir O, Caner H, Altinors N (2011) Simple decompression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow via proximal and distal mini skin incisions. Turk Neurosurg 21:167–171

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cutts S (2007) Cubital tunnel syndrome. Postgrad Med J 83:28–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Erol B, Tetik C, Sirin E (2004) The mid-term results of minimal medial epicondylectomy and decompression forcubital tunnel syndrome. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 38:330–336

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Feindel W, Stratford J (1958) The role of the cubital tunnel in tardy ulnar palsy. Can J Surg 1:287–300

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Flores LP (2010) Endoscopically assisted release of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 152:619–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gelberman RH, Yamaguchi K, Hollstien SB, Winn SS, Heidenreich FP Jr, Bindra RR, Hsieh P, Silva MJ (1998) Changes in interstitial pressure and cross-sectional area of the cubital tunnel and of the ulnar nerve with flexion of the elbow. An experimental study in human cadavera. J Bone Joint Surg Am 80:492–501

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kanat A, Epstein CR (2010) Challenges to neurosurgical professionalism. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 112:839–843

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kanat A, Yazar U (2013) Spinal surgery and neurosurgery: Quo Vadis? J Neurosurg Sci 57:75–79

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kanat A, Yazar U, Kazdal H, Yilmaz A, Musluman M (2009) Neurosurgery is a profession. Neurol Neurochir Pol 43:286–288

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Keiner D, Gaab MR, Schroeder HW, Oertel J (2009) Comparison of the long-term results of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve or simple decompression in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome–a prospective study. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 151:311–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mowlavi A, Andrews K, Lille S, Verhulst S, Zook EG, Milner S (2000) The management of cubital tunnel syndrome: a meta-analysis of clinical studies. Plast Reconstr Surg 106:327–334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nathan PA, Keniston RC, Meadows KD (1995) Outcome study of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow treated with simple decompression and an early programme of physical therapy. J Hand Surg Br 20:628–637

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Driscoll SW, Horii E, Carmichael SW, Morrey BF (1991) The cubital tunnel and ulnar neuropathy. J Bone Joint Surg Br 73:613–617

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Osborne G (1970) Compression neuritis of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Hand 2:10–13

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Robertson C, Saratsiotis J (2005) A review of compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 28:345

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Simsek S, Er U, Demirci A, Sorar M (2011) Operative illustrations of the Osborne’s ligament. Turk Neurosurg 21:269–270

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Steiner HH, von Haken MS, Steiner-Milz HG (1996) Entrapment neuropathy at the cubital tunnel: simple decompression is the method of choice. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 138:308–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. van Rijn RM, Huisstede BM, Koes BW, Burdorf A (2009) Associations between work-related factors and specific disorders at the elbow: a systematic literature review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48:528–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wadsworth TG, Williams JR (1973) Cubital tunnel external compression syndrome. Br Med J 17:662–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wadsworth TG, Williams RM (1977) The cubital tunnel external compression syndrome. Nurs Times 73:1357–1359

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wadsworth TG (1977) The external compression syndrome of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel. Clin Orthop 124:189–204

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, 53100, Merkez, Rize, Turkey

    Ayhan Kanat, Bulent Ozdemir & Vaner Koksal

  2. Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey

    Mehmet Sabri Balik

  3. Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey

    Serkan Kirbas

  4. Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey

    Ugur Yazar

  5. Medical Faculty Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey

    Hizir Kazdal

  6. Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomy, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey

    Ahmet Kalaycioglu

Authors
  1. Ayhan Kanat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mehmet Sabri Balik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Serkan Kirbas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bulent Ozdemir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vaner Koksal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ugur Yazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hizir Kazdal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ahmet Kalaycioglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayhan Kanat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kanat, A., Balik, M.S., Kirbas, S. et al. Paradox in the cubital tunnel syndrome—frequent involvement of left elbow: first report. Acta Neurochir 156, 165–168 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-013-1851-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-013-1851-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation