Abstract
Introduction: The presence of atypical muscle groups especially in sportsmen population is one of the causes of ulnar nerve entrapmnet. To treat this problem a close cooperation in between neurophysiologist, US-diagnost, surgeon and physiotherapist is mandatory. The inching (short segment study – SSS) of the peripheral nerves was introduced for testing the ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). The conventional fractionated ulnar nerve conduction studies localize the lesion only approximately to the elbow region, should be followed by inching of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Dynamic, functional US also precise the character and localise the lesion and region of mechanical obstacles for the nerve. These methods can disclose the degree of focal conduction block or pinpoint the region of focal slowing, giving complementary information about the character of the lesion and help to choose a therapy by neuromobilisation or operative treatment.
Aim: To compare results of SSS and US with intraoperative observations in a group of 24 patients operated due to peripheral neuropathy.
Results: US and SSS shows a 97–100% diagnostic specificity and sensitivity These methods are also useful among patients with functional disturbances due to joint instability or presence of abnormal muscle groups like the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle, additional triceps aponeurosis or abnormality of the medial head of triceps brachii.
Conclusions: Precise diagnosis helps to choose optimal therapy of UNE directed at the specific site of involvement. In our observations muscular pathology is responsible for UNE in about 40% of cases among sportsmen.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
