Ulnar Nerve

Ulnar Nerve

Ulnar nerve neuropathy due to ulnar nerve entrapment is often a painful disorder of the outer side of the arm and hand near the little finger, caused by pressure on the ulnar nerve in your arm.   The trusted experience and surgical expertise of the neurosurgeons at The Johns Hopkins Peripheral Nerve Surgery Center make us the best choice for treatment of this condition.  Symptoms Symptoms of ulnar nerve neuropathy may include:

Weakness or tenderness in the hand
Tingling in the palm and fourth and fifth fingers
Sensitivity to cold
Tenderness in the elbow joint

Causes

Ulnar nerve neuropathy can be a condition of nerve entrapment. The ulnar nerve can be constricted as it passes through the wrist or elbow. The ulnar nerve transmits electrical signals to muscles in the forearm and hand. The nerve is responsible for sensation in the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand, the palm, and the underside of the forearm. Ulnar neuropathy can also be called:

Bicycler's neuropathy
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Guyon or Guyon's canal syndrome
Tardy ulnar palsy

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis of ulnar nerve entrapment requires the expert attention of an experienced physician who will determine if the symptom is primary — meaning a stand-alone condition —or if it is secondary, arising out of a more complicated disease like diabetes. Diagnosis will include:

A comprehensive clinical exam. Your doctor will ask you to perform certain tasks with your hands so he or she can determine if ulnar nerve entrapment is a possible diagnosis for your pain.
Complete medical history
Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG) to study nerve conduction within your hands and wrists

Treatment

Depending on the severity of your ulnar nerve entrapment, your physician may recommend the following:

Occupational therapy to strengthen the ligaments and tendons in the hands and elbows
The daily use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonprescription pain relievers to help reduce pain and inflammation
Wearing splints to help immobilize the elbow

Your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your ulnar nerve neuropathy.

Surgical Intervention

There are two types of ulnar nerve entrapment surgery, or two approaches:

At the elbow. Your surgeon will make an incision at the elbow and perform a nerve decompression. Or your surgeon may choose to move the nerve to the inner part of the arm so that it is in a more direct position.
At the wrist. If the compression is at the wrist, the incision is made there and the decompression is performed.

Factors in Surgical Intervention

When physical therapy and other forms of non-surgical treatment fail, surgery is the best option to restore function and alleviate pain.

Recovery

Your bandages will be removed within 24 hours. Stitches if present are taken out in 10 days. Most people return to full activity within six weeks.