Preliminary results of recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome treated with neurolysis and porcine extracellular matrix nerve wrap.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical results of revision neurolysis and wrapping with porcine extracellular matrix (AxoGuard Nerve Protector, AxoGen Inc., Alachua, FL) for cubital tunnel syndrome after one previous surgical decompression.


METHODS
Twelve patients with recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome were treated with decompression, porcine extracellular matrix nerve wrap, and minimal medial epicondylectomy (if not previously performed). The average follow-up period was 41 months (range, 24-61 mo). All patients had recurrent symptoms after having previously undergone one surgical decompression. The mean patient age was 45 years (range, 30-58 y). All patients were evaluated subjectively and objectively (pain, satisfaction, static 2-point discrimination, grip strength, and pinch strength).


RESULTS
A significant improvement was demonstrated in postoperative pain levels (from 8.5 to 1.7), grip strength (from 41% to 86% of the unaffected side), and pinch strength (from 64% to 83% of the unaffected side). Static 2-point discrimination improved from an average 10.4 mm preoperatively to 7.6 mm postoperatively. Eleven of 12 patients demonstrated 2 mm or more improvement in 2-point discrimination postoperatively. There were no complications related to the use of the porcine extracellular matrix for nerve wrapping.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that secondary decompression combined with porcine extracellular matrix nerve wrapping was an effective and safe treatment for patients with recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome.


METHODS
Therapeutic IV.
Orthopaedic Specialists-UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Loukia K
LK
Papatheodorou
Orthopaedic Specialists-UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Benjamin G
BG
Williams
Orthopaedic Specialists-UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: dsoterea@hotmail.com.
Dean G
DG
Sotereanos
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D058128:Compression Bandages; D020430:Cubital Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Cubital tunnel; porcine extracellular matrix nerve wrap; recurrent compression neuropathy