Comparison of Sonography and Electrophysiological Study as Predictors of Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2009;11(2):66-72.
Published online December 31, 2009.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship among the clinical characteristics, electrophysiological severity and sonographic findings of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS).
Method: We enrolled 19 patients with CuTS and 19 healthy adults. We evaluated body mass index(BMI), symptom duration, self-administered questionnaire of the ulnar neuropathy at the elbow(SQUNE), McGowan score and electrophysiological severity score by Mondelli. We measured the crosssectionalarea of the ulnar nerve and cubital tunnel, and the ratio of the ulnar nerve to cubital tunnel. Thelong and short axis of the ulnar nerve were measured in diameters with the elbow flexed and extended.
Results: The ulnar nerve, with the elbow flexed and extended, was larger in the CuTS group than in thehealthy control group (p< 0.05). However, there is no significant difference between BMI and the cubitaltunnel area. The electrophysiological severity score was correlated with the SQUNE (r=0.738, p=0.010)and McGowan score (r=0.810, p=0.002), but not with the symptom duration. Sonographic findings didnot correlate with the symptom duration, SQUNE, McGowan score, and electrophysiological severityscore.
Conclusion: Sonography can detect the morphological changes in the ulnar nerve in patients with theCuTS. However, the best predictors of clinical characteristics in the CuTS seem to be the electrophysiologicalseverity rather than the sonographic findings.

Key Words: Ultrasonography, Electrodiagnosis, Ulnar nerve, Cubital tunnel syndrome