Abstract
Background: Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow level is the second-most common entrapment neuropathy. The aim of this study was to use shear-wave elastography for the quantification of ulnar nerve elasticity in patients after ulnar nerve decompression with anterior transposition and in the contralateral non-operative side. Method: Eleven patients with confirmed diagnosis and ulnar nerve decompression with anterior transposition were included and examinations were performed on an AixplorerTM ultrasound system (Supersonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France). Results: We observed significant differences at 0-degree (p < 0.001), 45-degree (p < 0.05), 90-degree (p < 0.01) and 120-degree (p < 0.001) elbow flexion in the shear elastic modulus of the ulnar nerve in the operative and non-operative sides. There were no statistically significant differences between the elasticity values of the ulnar nerve after transposition at 0-degree elbow flexion and in the non-operative side at 120-degree elbow flexion (p = 0.39), or in the ulnar nerve after transposition at 120-degree elbow flexion and in the non-operative side at 0-degree elbow flexion (p = 0.09). Conclusion: Shear-wave elastography has the potential to be used postoperatively as a method for assessing nerve tension noninvasively by the estimation of mechanical properties, such as the shear elastic modulus.
Highlights
With an annual incidence of 24.7 per 100,000 [1], cubital tunnel syndrome is the second-most common entrapment neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Ulnar neuropathy is identified by clinical history, physical examination and electroneuromyography (ENMG), which represents a key component in this diagnosis [2,8]
The aim of this study was to assess the kinematic profile of nerves after ulnar nerve transposition, and to use Shear-wave elastography (SWE) for the quantification of ulnar nerve elasticity related to nerve tension in patients after ulnar nerve decompression with anterior transposition and in the healthy contralateral side
Summary
With an annual incidence of 24.7 per 100,000 [1], cubital tunnel syndrome is the second-most common entrapment neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. With transposition from posterior to anterior to the axis of rotation of the elbow, reduces the tension on the nerve in elbow flexion This technique has been considered in patients with ulnar nerve instability [4], severe osteoarthritis of the elbow, cubitus valgus and the presence of a mass within the cubital tunnel. The aim of this study was to use shear-wave elastography for the quantification of ulnar nerve elasticity in patients after ulnar nerve decompression with anterior transposition and in the contralateral non-operative side. Results: We observed significant differences at 0-degree (p < 0.001), 45-degree (p < 0.05), 90-degree (p < 0.01) and 120-degree (p < 0.001) elbow flexion in the shear elastic modulus of the ulnar nerve in the operative and non-operative sides. Conclusion: Shear-wave elastography has the potential to be used postoperatively as a method for assessing nerve tension noninvasively by the estimation of mechanical properties, such as the shear elastic modulus
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
