title: Role of high resolution ultrasound in ulnar nerve neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to measure the cross sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve (UN) in the cubital tunnel and to evaluate the role of high-resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ulnar nerve neuropathy (UNN).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study with 64 arms from 32 patients (34 neuropathic, 30 nonneuropathic). Diagnosis was confirmed by nerve conduction study and electromyography. The ulnar nerves were evaluated with 15MHz small footprint linear array transducer. The ulnar nerve CSA was measured at three levels with arm extended: at medial epicondyle (ME), 5cm proximal and 5cm distal to ME. Results from the neuropathic and nonneuropathic arms were compared. Independent T-tests and Pearson correlation tests were used. P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CSA values for the UN at levels 5cm proximal to ME, ME and 5cm distal to ME were 0.055, 0.109, 0.045 cm(2) respectively in the neuropathic group and 0.049, 0.075, 0.042 cm2 respectively in the non-neuropathic group. The CSA of the UN at the ME level was significantly larger in the neuropathic group, with p value of 0.005. However, there was no statistical difference between the groups at 5cm proximal and distal to the ME, with p values of 0.10 and 0.35 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is significant difference in CSA values of the UN at ME between the neuropathic and non-neuropathic groups with mean CSA value above the predetermined 0.10cm(2) cut-off point. High-resolution ultrasonography is therefore useful to diagnose and follow up cases of elbow UNN.
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sridharan.radhika@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radhika
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fazalina
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sharifah Majedah
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suraya
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jamari
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jalan Yaakub latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Norlinah