Electrophysiological Severity of Ulnar Neuropathy Across the Elbow

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2008;10(1):6-11.
Published online June 1, 2008.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the electrophysiological severity and to evaluate the relationship between theclinical severity and the electrophysiological severity of ulnar neuropathy across the elbow (UAE).Methods: Seventeen patients (20 cases) with documented UAE from January 2000 to December 2001were included (12 male, 5 female, 42.6±10.97 years). We evaluated the clinical severity using the Dawson’sClassification. The electrophysiological severity was based on nerve conduction studies. The scaleused was as follows: mild, slowing of the ulnar motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) across theelbow and normal ulnar sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and compound motor action potential(CMAP); moderate, slowing of the ulnar MNCV across the elbow and a reduced amplitude or the absenceof ulnar SNAP; severe, slowing of the ulnar MNCV across elbow and the reduced amplitude or absenceof ulnar CMAP.Results: The electrophysiological severity and Dawson’s clinical severity were classified into threescales. Three cases were classified as mild, 10 cases as moderate and seven cases as severe. A significantrelationship was observed between the degree of electrophysiological severity and the clinical severity.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that our assessment method of electrophysiological severitywas correlated with the clinical severity of UAE.

Key Words: Ulnar neuropathy, Electrophysiology, Nerve conduction