Ulnar Nerve Compression (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)

 

Mechanism/Injury:               

Many causes inc. stretching nerve when bending elbow

Swelling of tissues around ulnar nerve at elbow

Repetitive small injury to elbow

Elbow trauma

 

Symptoms:                           

Aching pain on inside of elbow/forearm

Pins and needles/numbness of little and ring fingers

Often worse on prolonged bending elbow- reading or holding phone to ear

May wake/ interfere with sleep

Shooting pains elbow to hand- ‘funny bone’

Dropping objects/ clumsiness

Weakness of hand. Clawing of fingers- late signs

 

Investigations:                     

X-Ray- elbow

Nerve conduction studies

              

Treatment options:             

Pain killers

Physiotherapy

Splints for elbow

Surgery-  see ulnar nerve release