Cigarette smoking and ulnar mononeuropathy at the elbow.
OBJECTIVE
To identify lifestyle risk factors for electrodiagnostically confirmed ulnar mononeuropathy at the elbow (UME).


METHODS
A case-control study involving 101 subjects (12 with definite UME, 42 with probable UME, and 47 controls) who responded to a questionnaire requesting information on subject vocation, repetitive upper limb activity, and alcohol and cigarette use.


RESULTS
Subjects with definite UME reported greater tobacco usage as defined by cigarettes per day (mean +/- standard error; 20.1 +/- 5.2, 9.3 +/- 1.9, 8.6 +/- 1.5 cigarettes/day for definite, probable UME, and controls, respectively; P = 0.014) and pack-years (27.3 +/- 9.7, 12.5 +/- 3.0, 9.9 +/- 2.3, for definite, probable UME, and controls, respectively; P = 0.029). The association between cigarettes and definite UME persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index and was not confounded by alcohol use. Significant negative correlations between tobacco use and ulnar conduction velocities across the elbow and amplitudes above the elbow were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smoking and UME seem to be associated. The presence of a plausible mechanism for injury and a dose-response effect suggests that this association may be causative.
Richardson
James K
JK
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Jamieson
Sarah Clay
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009431:Neural Conduction; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*