Surgical outcomes of 654 ulnar nerve lesions

• DOI: 10.3171/jns.2003.98.5.0993
• Publication Date: 2009-05-13T17:57:34Z
• Authors: Daniel H. Kim; Kisoo Han; Robert L. Tiel; Judith A. Murovic; David G. Kline
• Keywords: Neurolysis; Radial nerve

Object. In this article the authors present a retrospective analysis of 654 surgical outcomes in patients with ulnar nerve entrapments, injuries, and tumors during 30-year period. Methods. Data were gathered between 1968 1998 at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Mechanisms injuries or lesions included 460 entrapments elbow level (70%), 76 lacerations (12%), 52 stretches/contusions (8%), 34 fractures/dislocations (5%), 12 gunshot wounds (2%), two injection-induced (0.3%), 13 sheath (2%). cases entrapment, direct operative recordings uniformly demonstrated slowing conduction elbow, even which preoperative noninvasive studies had been nondiagnostic. Intraoperative electrical “inching” also significant abnormalities that lie just proximal to through olecranon notch rather than distal, beneath flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. There only eight exceptions this. Lesions not continuity due injury required primary secondary end-to-end sutures graft repair. Aided by intraoperative action potential recording, received either external internal neurolysis split repair resection followed suture Functional recoveries Grade 3 better seen 81 (92%) 88 who underwent neurolysis, 42 (72%) 58 repair, 24 (67%) 36 Nevertheless, fewer 4 5 reached those radial median injuries. Nerve resected preservation function five seven patients. Conclusions. Although difficult obtain, useful functional recovery can be achieved proper management