title: Is medial elbow pain correlated with cubital tunnel syndrome? An electrodiagnostic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medial elbow pain is often considered to be a symptom associated with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). We examined the relationship between medial elbow pain and a positive electrodiagnostic (EDx) test result for UNE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of 884 patients referred for EDx evaluation of UNE. Regression models were used to determine the odds ratios between clinical findings and a positive EDx result for UNE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported medial elbow pain in 44.3% of cases. Clinical factors that correlated with a positive EDx study result for UNE included male gender, small and ring finger numbness, ulnar intrinsic weakness, and age. Medial elbow pain was negatively correlated with a positive EDx result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a negative correlation between medial elbow pain and a positive EDx result for UNE. Medial elbow pain should not be considered a clear diagnostic symptom of UNE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Speach
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Center for Orthopedics, St. Clair Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Elfar
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020430:Cubital Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004550:Elbow / Q000473:pathology*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cubital tunnel syndrome; electrodiagnostic study; medial elbow pain; tardy ulnar palsy; ulnar neuropathy at the elbow