Comparative study of surgical treatment of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal surgical treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the long-term outcome of surgical treatment by comparing the results of the different methods proposed.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 113 patients in whom 3 different surgical methods were used for cubital tunnel syndrome treatment. In situ decompression, partial epicondylectomy, and anterior subcutaneous transposition were performed from 1997 to 2007.


RESULTS
Results were graded as excellent in 51 patients (45%), good in 34 (30%), fair in 8 (7%), and poor in 20 (18%). When we compared the results among the different surgical procedures, good and excellent results were achieved in 26 of 31 patients (84%) treated with in situ decompression, 36 of 45 (80%) treated with release and partial medial epicondylectomy, and 23 of 37 (62%) treated with release and anterior subcutaneous transposition of the nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that in situ decompression and partial epicondylectomy both represent efficient and safe methods for cubital tunnel syndrome management. In patients in whom anterior subcutaneous transposition was performed, although they had a significant improvement of their clinical signs and symptoms, they had an inferior outcome when compared with patients treated with the other 2 methods.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece. mitsionis@otenet.gr
Grigorios I
GI
Mitsionis
Grigorios N
GN
Manoudis
Nikolaos K
NK
Paschos
Anastasios V
AV
Korompilias
Alexandros E
AE
Beris
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult