European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is the second most common
compression neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Surgery is usually necessary
to treat chronic neuropathy associated with muscle weakness or neuropathy that does not
respond to conservative measures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate patientreported
and surgeon-evaluated outcome of ulnar nerve entrapment in cubital tunnel
decompression versus transposition.Patients and Methods: The study was conducted at
Neurosurgery Department, Zagazig University Hospitals on 18 ulnar nerve entrapment
patients 9 cases undergone simply decompression operation and 9 cases undergone
transposition operation.All cases were subjected to medical records of all cases, clinical
diagnosis and Electrodiagnostic tests. Postoperative outcome was assessed and graded,
based on patient-reported and surgeon-evaluated outcome, into four groups: cured,
improved, unchanged or exacerbated Results:88.9% of the decompression group shows
full motor power (FMP) postoperatively while this was shown in 44.4% of transposition
group with no significant difference(P<0.05) between the two groups.All patients of both
groups show postoperative improved sensory manifestations. There was highly significant
difference (p<0.05) between the two studied groups regarding postoperative nerve
conduction velocity NCV as it was higher in decompression group than transposition
group (57.28±2.5 vs. 54.18±3.35)m/s. while there was no significant difference between
them regarding nerve thickness by ultrasound.Conclusion:Perioperative assessment of
ulnar nerve subluxation at primary surgery for UNE should be routine and, if found, an
ulnar nerve transposition should be performed in the same surgical session, to minimize
the need for revision surgery.