title: Subclinical ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the prevalence and characteristics of subclinical ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five patients with diabetes mellitus were recruited for the study of ulnar nerve conduction analysis. Clinical and demographic characteristics were assessed. Electrodiagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow was based on the criteria of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM1 and AANEM2). The inching test of the ulnar motor nerve was additionally performed to localize the lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of diabetes, the existence of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) symptoms, the duration of symptoms, and HbA1C showed significantly larger values in the DPN group (p<0.05). Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow was more common in the DPN group. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of cases that met the three diagnostic criteria between the no DPN group and the DPN group. The most common location for ulnar mononeuropathy at the elbow was the retrocondylar groove.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is more common in patients with DPN. If the conduction velocities of both the elbow and forearm segments are decreased to less than 50 m/s, it may be useful to apply the AANEM2 criteria and inching test to diagnose ulnar neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Kyu
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Yae
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hwee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic polyneuropathy; Elbow; Entrapment; Ulnar neuropathy