gms | German Medical Science

63rd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)
Joint Meeting with the Japanese Neurosurgical Society (JNS)

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

13 - 16 June 2012, Leipzig

Endoscopic treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome: experience with 74 patients

Meeting Abstract

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  • J.A. Assaf - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Neubrandenburg
  • M.J. Fritsch - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Neubrandenburg

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Japanische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 63. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Japanischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (JNS). Leipzig, 13.-16.06.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. DocFR.13.10

doi: 10.3205/12dgnc287, urn:nbn:de:0183-12dgnc2876

Published: June 4, 2012

© 2012 Assaf et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

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Objective: We present patient data, surgical technique and outcome of 74 consecutive patients treated endoscopically for the cubital tunnel syndrome. Patients were included into a prospective database.

Methods: Utilizing a 2 cm curved linear incision, we decompressed the ulnar nerve, using the endoscope 12 cm proximally and 10 cm distally. All procedures were performed as outpatient procedures. Patients were operated between January 2007 and June 2011. All patients had undergone EMG prior to surgery and underwent clinical and EMG reevaluation 6 months following the procedure.

Results: Clinical outcome according to the modified Bishop Rating System was excellent in 65%, good in 30% and moderate in 5%. Poor results at 6 months follow-up were not seen. Complications (sensory-motot deficits, increased pain and tingling) were seen in 2 patients and were transitory.

Conclusions: Endoscopic management of the cubital tunnel syndrome presents a reliable and safe method. The patients’ outcome is good to excellent. In our experience the method is at least comparable to open ulnar nerve decompression.