Three ulnar nerve conduction studies in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
OBJECTIVE
Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is often difficult to localize by standard electrophysiologic testing. This study compared three ulnar nerve conduction studies to determine which was more sensitive in localizing ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.


METHODS
Motor studies to the first dorsal interosseous and the abductor digiti quinti and a mixed ulnar nerve sensory study across the elbow.


RESULTS
Motor studies to the first dorsal interosseous and abductor digiti quinti were abnormal in 81% and 71% of patients, respectively. The ulnar mixed sensory study across the elbow was abnormal in 57%. In 38%, all three tests were abnormal.


CONCLUSIONS
Motor studies were more sensitive than the ulnar mixed sensory study across the elbow in localizing ulnar neuropathy of the elbow.
Kothari
M J
MJ
Division of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Heistand
M
M
Rutkove
S B
SB
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways; D000368:Aged; D004525:Efferent Pathways; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology