Sonographic Examination Cubital Tunnel Release

Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona60 enrolled

Overview

The investigators want to compare changes in cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve at the elbow after open release or endoscopic release.

The investigators want to compare changes in CSA of the ulnar nerve at the elbow hypothesizing that US examination is a useful tool to detect unsuccessful release and defining which technique shows the best outcome in the first year postoperatively. The measurement of cross-sectional area (CSA) as a diagnostic tool to detect entrapments syndrome in upper limbs has already been described. US typically demonstrates an abrupt narrowing and displacement of the nerve within the tunnel, possibly in association with a thickened retinaculum or a space-occupying lesions. Previous studies prospectively compared sonographic outcomes after decompression of the median nerve at the wrist.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Ulnar Nerve Compression, Cubital Tunnel

Interventions

Cubital tunnel releasePROCEDURE

The ulnar nerve is decompressed proximally at the intramuscular septum, decompressed more distally through the cubital tunnel and then exposed between the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. Care is taken to ensure that any point that might compress the ulnar nerve either proximally or distally is evaluated.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 35 YearsMax age: 85 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * history of paresthesia or numbness in the ulnar nerve distribution; * weakness or wasting of the small muscles of the hand; * a positive elbow flexion provocation test; * slowed motor conduction velocity in the ulnar nerve below 50 m/sec. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with normal nerve conduction studies; * prior surgery for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome; * prior traumatic lesions of the elbow; * coexistent neurological diseases; * bone anormalities (cubitus valgus, deformities from previous elbow fractures, osteoarthritis with medial osteophytes ands loose bodies, heterotopic ossifications); * subluxating ulnar nerve; * space-occupying soft-tissue lesions.

Locations (1)

Dr.Lucchina Stefano

Locarno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

American Shoulder and Elbow Society Function Score

Patients undergoing surgical decompression indicate their postoperative clinical outcome with this scale

Time frame: 12 months postoperatively.

Secondary Outcomes

Jamar dynamometer (grip strength)

Quantitative measurement of grip strength were assessed with a Jamar dynamometer. The Jamar Dynamometer is an instrument for measuring the maximum isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. The Jamar dynamometer was introduced in 1954 (Bechtol,1954). It consists of a sealed hydraulic system with adjustable hand spacings that measures handgrip force

Time frame: 12 months postoperatively.

Static-2 point discrimination test

Two-point discrimination is the ability to discern that two nearby objects touching the skin are truly two distinct points. Two-point discrimination has long been used as an assessment tool for tactile gnosis, and to assess recovery after a peripheral nerve surgery.

Time frame: 12 months postoperatively.

4-point Likert-type scale

Patients undergoing surgical decompression indicate their postoperative clinical outcome on a questionnaire using 4-point Likert-type scale (1= large improvement, 2 = moderate improvement, 3= no improvement, 4= worse than preoperatively)

Time frame: 12 months postoperatively.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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