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Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve in the elbow: video article.

ABSTRACT: Disorders affecting the ulnar nerve in the elbow are common in clinical practice. The diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and electrodiagnostic tests, but imaging examinations are frequently necessary, particularly for the identification of the structures associated with nerve compression. The purpose of this video article is to review the anatomy, the pathology, scanning techniques, and sonographic appearance of the ulnar nerve in the elbow.

SUBMITTER: Draghi F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7441104 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve in the elbow: video article.

Draghi Ferdinando F Bortolotto Chandra C Ballerini Daniela D Preda Lorenzo L

Journal of ultrasound 20200328 3

Disorders affecting the ulnar nerve in the elbow are common in clinical practice. The diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and electrodiagnostic tests, but imaging examinations are frequently necessary, particularly for the identification of the structures associated with nerve compression. The purpose of this video article is to review the anatomy, the pathology, scanning techniques, and sonographic appearance of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. ...[more]

PMID: 32222947

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Project description:BackgroundUlnar neuropathy at the elbow is an entrapment neuropathy, while ulnar nerve dislocation might also be involved in its incidence and severity. Wheelchair marathon athletes may be at an increased risk for Ulnar Neuropathy. However, there is a paucity of research into the prevalence of Ulnar Neuropathy and ulnar nerve dislocation in this population.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and ulnar nerve dislocation in wheelchair marathon athletes.ParticipantsWheelchair marathon athletes (N = 38) who participated in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Oita International Wheelchair Marathon. 2 athletes participated only one time, 36 athletes repeatedly. Data from athletes`latest assessment were used.MethodsThe day before the race, questionnaires, physical examinations, and ultrasonography were conducted to screen for Ulnar Neuropathy in both upper limbs. Ulnar nerve dislocation was confirmed by physical examination and ultrasonography.Results11 (29%) athletes were diagnosed with Ulnar Neuropathy. There were no significant differences in age, height, weight, Body Mass Index, or history of primary illness between athletes with and without Ulnar Neuropathy. In the group without Ulnar Neuropathy, 44% of athletes reported to have been engaging in other wheelchair sports, compared to 9% in the group with Ulnar Neuropathy (p = 0.037). Ulnar nerve dislocation was diagnosed in 15 (39%) athletes by ultrasonography. Out of the 14 elbows of 11 athletes diagnosed with Ulnar Neuropathy, 9 (64%) elbows had ulnar nerve dislocation.ConclusionThe prevalence of Ulnar Neuropathy in wheelchair marathon athletes was higher than previously reported in able-bodied, non-athlete individuals and lower than in non-athletes with lower limb dysfunction. Therefore, while wheelchair sports may provide some protection against Ulnar Neuropathy, this study further supports the importance of screening for Ulnar Neuropathy, as well as for ulnar nerve dislocation as a potential risk factor for the development of Ulnar Neuropathy.

Project description:IntroductionHigh resolution ultrasonography (US) has been used for diagnosis and evaluation of entrapment peripheral neuropathy. Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is the second most common focal entrapment neuropathy. The ulnar nerve tends to move to the anteromedial side and sometimes subluxates or dislocates over the medial epicondyle as the elbow is flexed. Dislocation of the ulnar nerve during elbow flexion may contribute to friction injury. We aimed to investigate the effects which the dislocation of ulnar nerve at the elbow could have on the electrophysiologic pathology of UNE.MaterialsWe retrospectively reviewed 71 arms of UNE. The demographic data, electrodiagnosis findings and US findings of ulnar nerve were analyzed. We classified the electrodiagnosis findings of UNE into three pathologic types; demyelinating, sensory axonal loss, and mixed sensorimotor axonal loss. The arms were grouped into non-dislocation, partial dislocation, and complete dislocation groups according to the findings of nerve dislocation in US examination. We compared the electrodiagnosis findings, ulnar nerve cross sectional areas in US and electrodiagnosis pathology types among the groups.ResultsA total of 18 (25.3%) arms showed partial dislocation, and 15 (21.1%) arms showed complete dislocation of ulnar nerve in US. In the comparison of electrodiagnosis findings, the partial and complete dislocation groups showed significantly slower conduction velocities and lower amplitudes than non-dislocation group in motor conduction study. In the sensory conduction study, the conduction velocity was significantly slower in partial dislocation group and the amplitude was significantly lower in complete dislocation group than non-dislocation group. In the comparison of US findings, patients in partial and complete dislocation groups showed significantly larger cross sectional areas of the ulnar nerve. The comparison of electrodiagnosis pathologic types among the groups revealed that there were significantly larger proportions of the axonal loss (sensory axonal loss or mixed sensorimotor axonal loss) in partial and complete dislocation groups than non-dislocation group.ConclusionThe ulnar nerve dislocation could influence on the more severe damage of the ulnar nerve in patients with UNE. It might be important to evaluate the dislocation of the ulnar nerve using US in diagnosing ulnar neuropathy for predicting the prognosis and determining the treatment direction of UNE.

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Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve in the elbow: video article.

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Ultrasonography of the ulnar nerve in the elbow: video article.

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