[Experimental and Clinical Studies of the Vascularized Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome]

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a common entrapment neuropathy and is often treated by anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. At the time of transposition, neurolysis may impair the blood supply of the ulnar nerve. In an attempt to evaluate the effect of blood supply on clinical results of anterior transposition, the blood flow of the ulnar nerves in dogs following anterior transposition with and without the extrinsic vessels was studied. Blood flow was found to be decreased in the ulnar nerve when the elbow was in a flexed position. After transposition, blood flow was increased when the extrinsic vessels were preserved. A clinical study followed in which twenty-two patients with cubital tunnel syndrome underwent a vascularized transposition of the ulnar nerve. At the time of operation, the superior ulnar collateral artery and inferior ulnar collateral artery were preserved. Ninety-one percent of patients enjoyed excellent or good results.