title: Anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve with fascial flap and complete excision of medial intermuscular septum in cubital tunnel syndrome: a prospective patient cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regarding the frequency of cubital tunnel syndrome, varieties of treatment modalities, and ambiguity of anterior subcutaneous transposition of ulnar nerve method, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome referred to Taleghani hospital between 2006 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a case series including all referred patients with definite diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome, treated by anterior subcutaneous transposition. Treatment results were measured according to modified Bishop rating system, and were ranked into excellent, good, fair, and poor. Variables such as gender, age (less/more than 45 years), causation, and initial severity, determined by Dellon criteria preoperatively, were analyzed by Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study was performed on 26 eligible cases including 29 elbows, 38% males and 62.1% females, with mean age of 44.5 years (ranging 23-72 years). In a 12 months follow-up post-operatively, 62% showed excellent, 20.7% good, and 17.3% fair, with no poor result. In a 1-12 months follow-up post-operatively, results showed improvement, and initial severity and old age were demonstrated to significantly affect treatment results (P<0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though considered standard of care, the present study suggests that criteria for surgical techniques of ulnar nerve decompression, e.g. simple decompression vs. more extensive repair as in the present cohort, should be revised by controlled prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. hraslani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Aslani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamidreza
authors.forename: Abrishami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeid
authors.forename: Dehghanfard
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohammadreza
authors.forename: Zaferani
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zohreh
authors.forename: Saeidpour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehdi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020430:Cubital Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012677:Sensation; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult