Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between ultrasonographic and
electrodiagnostic findings to determine the localization of the ulnar trapping at
the elbow. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and noninterventional trial. SETTING: Physical
medicine and rehabilitation department of a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS:
Patients (N=14) diagnosed with ulnar nerve entrapment using short-segment nerve
conduction study. INTERVENTIONS: The elbow area was divided into 4 segments with
2-cm intervals. All patients underwent ultrasonographic and electrodiagnostic
examinations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of each
segment was measured. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve was
measured at 5 levels. The proximal CSA/distal CSA ratio (PDR) was calculated by
proportioning the CSA values for each segment. The highest PDR was accepted as a
trapping segment, whereas the segment with the lowest NCV was accepted
electrophysiologically (provided it was <50m/s). RESULTS: A total of 80 PDR and
NCV measurements were taken from 20 elbows. A statistically significant negative
correlation (r=-.554; P<.001) was found between general PDR and NCV values. When
we assumed that the NCV value <50m/s as the criterion standard for diagnosis, the
cutoff value for the PDR was found to be 1.08, with a sensitivity of 70% and a
specificity of 92.5%. The minimum NCV value and the maximum PDR value were mostly
seen in the third segment compatible with the cubital tunnel. CONCLUSIONS:
Ultrasonography seems to be advantageous because it is more comfortable for the
patient and requires shorter time than does electroneuromyography. To our
knowledge, this is the first study to detect ulnar nerve entrapment by using not
only CSA but also PDR as a ratio method with ultrasound.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS