Secondary ulnar nerve palsy in adults after elbow trauma: a report of two cases.
Secondary ulnar nerve palsy, an unusual condition in which the onset of ulnar nerve dysfunction occurs 1 to 3 months after elbow trauma, can be the cause of sudden deterioration of elbow function. Initially recognized in 1899, this condition has not been reported often. We describe 2 patients who had no subjective or objective evidence of ulnar nerve dysfunction after elbow trauma but had a sudden loss of motion, pain, and clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow 4 to 5 weeks after trauma. Marked improvement occurred after ulnar nerve subcutaneous transposition and contracture release.
Faierman
E
E
Orthopaedic Hand Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Wang
J
J
Jupiter
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000092464:Elbow Injuries