Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

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Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
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Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

• Cubital tunnel syndrome is a nerve disorder that
  leads to continual pressure or stretching of the
  ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve supplies feeling to
  the little finger and ring finger and controls
  small muscles of the heart. The ulnar nerve runs
  through a passage called the cubital tunnel,
  which is made up of bone, ligament, and muscle.
  Any type of strain created on the ulnar nerve
  results in numbness in the ring and small
  fingers, weakness in the hand, or pain in the
  forearm, causing cubital tunnel syndrome. The
  ulnar nerve is also known as a funny bone nerve. 

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Cubital tunnel syndrome causes 

• Most common causes of Cubital Tunnel
  Syndrome are 
• Frequent bending of elbow, leaning on your elbow
  along a hard surface increases the pressure on
  the ulnar nerve.
• Repeated physical activities such as, pulling
  levers, lifting heavy weights, or use of elbow to
  support your head creates strain on the ulnar
  nerve.
• Sometimes ulnar nerve is damaged due to injuries
  and accidents.
• Abnormal growth of elbow bone can also lead to
  cubital tunnel syndrome.

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Symptoms

• The symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome depend
  upon the severity of the condition. If you
  experience any of the following symptoms, consult
  your neurologist.  
• Pain and numbness in the elbow
• Persistent pain in ring and small finger
• Loss of sensation in the hand
• Restricted movements of the hand joints
• Inability to pinch the thumb or little finger
• Tingling in hand muscles

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Diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

• After examining a patients complete medical
  history and conducting physical exam, the doctor
  will order diagnostic tests which will help him
  to know the type of joint that has been
  affected. Diagnostic tests for cubital tunnel
  syndrome may include
• Nerve conduction velocity test (NCV)- The nerve
  conduction test measures the speed of the
  reflexes along the nerve. The speed of reflexes
  decreases if the nerve is contracted or
  compressed.
• Electromyogram test (EMG)- Electromyogram
  procedure measures the health of nerve and
  muscles in the hand. Electrodes are placed in the
  muscles to detect the area of the nerve damage.

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Treatments

• Surgical treatment Medial epicondylectomy- In
  this surgical procedure inside edge of the elbow
  is removed so that ulnar nerve can run through
  the cubital tunnel without any difficulty. Ulnar
  nerve transposition- In this procedure a new
  passage is created for the ulnar nerve. A surgeon
  uses the flexor muscle of the forearm to create a
  new tunnel. Non-surgical Treatment 
• Avoid putting pressure on your elbow
• Take anti-inflammatory medicines
• Avoid unnecessary movement of elbow
• Exercise daily to stretch your elbow
• Use cold or heat therapy to reduce pain

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