Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Bilateral snapping ulnar nerve syndrome in a professional decathlete—a rare case report and review of the literature

  • Case Report
  • Published:
European Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Abstract

We highlight a case of bilateral ulnar nerve instability in a young, competitive decathlete. The symptoms proved disabling to the athlete’s daily training routine and required operative measures in the form of an anterior submuscular transposition without epicondylectomy. The procedure proved effective with complete resolution of troublesome symptoms. Within 6 months post-operatively, the patient returned to train and perform at an elite national standard in his sport.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Lazaro L (1977) Ulnar nerve instability: ulnar nerve injury due to elbow flexion. South Med J 70(1):36–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Xarchas KC, Psillakis I, Koukou O, Kazakos KJ, Ververidis A, Verettas DA (2007) Ulnar nerve dislocation at the elbow: review of the literature and report of three cases. Open Orthop J 1:1–3

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Childress HM (1975) Recurrent ulnar-nerve dislocation at the elbow. Clin Orthop 108:169–173

    Google Scholar 

  4. Watts AC, McEachan J, Reid J, Rymaszewski L (2009) The snapping elbow: a diagnostic pitfall. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 18:e9–e10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vanhees MKD, Guerts GFAE, Van Reit RP (2010) Snapping triceps syndrome: a review of the literature. Should Elb 2:30–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Reis ND (1980) Anomalous triceps tendon as a cause for snapping elbow and ulnar neuritis: a case report. J Hand Surg 5:361–362

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Minami A, Sugawara M (1988) Humeral trochlear hypoplasia secondary to epiphyseal injury as a cause of ulnar nerve palsy. Clin Orthop 228:227–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cain EL, Dugas JR, Wolf RS, Andrews JR (2003) Elbow injuries in throwing athletes: a current concepts review. Am J Sports Med 31(4):621–635

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Rettig AC, Ebben JR (1993) Anterior subcutaneous transfer of the ulnar nerve in the athlete. Am J Sports Med 21:836–840

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Andrews JR, Timmerman LA (1995) Outcome of elbow surgery in professional baseball players. Am J Sports Med 23:407–413

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Glousman RE (1990) Ulnar nerve problems in the athlete’s elbow. Clin Sports Med 9:365–377

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jobe FW, Nuber G (1986) Throwing injuries of the elbow. Clin Sports Med 5:621–636

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Regan WD, Morrey BF (1994) Entrapment neuropathies about the elbow. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr (eds) Orthopaedic sports medicine: principles and practice. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 844–859

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Good Hope Hospital and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B75 7RR, UK

    Ashvin Pimpalnerkar

  2. College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Amit Anand & Nicholas James Campion

  3. UK Athletics, National Training Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK

    Robin Chakraverty

Authors
  1. Amit Anand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicholas James Campion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robin Chakraverty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ashvin Pimpalnerkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashvin Pimpalnerkar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Anand, A., Campion, N.J., Chakraverty, R. et al. Bilateral snapping ulnar nerve syndrome in a professional decathlete—a rare case report and review of the literature. Eur Orthop Traumatol 3, 263–266 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-012-0111-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-012-0111-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation