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Does ulnar nerve dislocation at the elbow cause neuropathy?
Author(s) -
Omejec Gregor,
Podnar Simon
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24786
Subject(s) - medicine , ulnar nerve , ulnar neuropathy , elbow , subclinical infection , nerve conduction , surgery , anatomy
The role of ulnar nerve dislocation in the pathogenesis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is not clear. Data exist for and against a causal relationship. Methods We studied UNE patients and controls divided into 4 groups consisting of 203 UNE patient arms (185 with abnormal and 18 with normal diagnostic studies) and 49 controls (10 with abnormal and 39 with normal studies). In all arms we performed neurologic examination, short‐segment nerve conduction studies (SSNCS), and ultrasonography (US). The frequency of partial and complete nerve dislocation was calculated in each group. Results Dislocation tended to be more common in controls compared with UNE patients ( P = 0.056). It was particularly common in controls with subclinical UNE and patients with UNE symptoms but normal diagnostic studies. Conclusion Our data speak against a causal relationship between ulnar nerve dislocation and UNE. However, the findings also suggest that dislocation may cause mild ulnar nerve damage. Muscle Nerve 53: 255–259, 2016