Clinical Features and Electrodiagnostic Findings of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and electrodiagnostic findings of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. METHOD: Sixty-two patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow were reviewed retrospectively to establish causes, severity and type of neuropathy, symptom, sign, operation name and operative findings. RESULTS: 1) Of total 62 cases, 41 were male and 21 were female and the most often were in their forties and fifties. 2) The main cause of the neuropathy is bone deformity caused by previous fracture or dislocation (43.6%). 3) The symptoms observed were motor weakness (66.1%), sensory change (79%) and muscle atrophy (35.5%). 4) Forty-nine cases showed abnormality in nerve conduction study and needle electromyography study, and 9 cases showed abnormality only in the needle electromyography study. 5) On needle electromyography, sparing of flexor carpi ulnaris was shown in 50 cases (80.6%). 6) Operative treatment was performed in 15 cases. Among them, electrodiagnostic and operative diagnosis coincided in only 12 cases (80%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that above clinical and electrodiagnostic findings are useful for the diagonosis ulnar neuropathy at the elbow with consideration of etiology, localization and for the selection of operative treatment.