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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2023; 58(03): 449-456
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1751023
Artigo Original
Mão

Endoscopic Release of the Ulnar Nerve at the Elbow: Technique Description and Case Series

Article in several languages: português | English
Ricardo Kaempf de Oliveira
1   Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
,
João Pedro Farina Brunelli 
1   Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
,
Matheus Baldasso Araújo
2   Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brasil
,
Márcio Aita
1   Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
,
Vicente Carratalá
3   Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, União de Mutuas, Valencia, Espanha
,
Pedro J. Delgado
4   Unidade de Cirurgia de Mão, Hospital Universitário Madrid Montepríncipe, Universidade CEU San Pablo, Boadilla del Monte, Madri, Espanha
› Author Affiliations

Financial Support The present study received no financial support from either public, commercial, or not-for-profit sources.
› Further Information
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Abstract

Objective The endoscopic release of the ulnar nerve reproduces a simple (in situ) procedure with smaller incisions, less soft tissue damage, and higher preservation of nerve vascularization. Endoscopy allows the clear visualization of the entire path of the nerve and surrounding noble structures. Moreover, it reveals any signs of compression and allows a safe release of 10 cm distally or proximally to the medial epicondyle.

Methods A retrospective survey revealed that 15 subjects (1 with a bilateral injury) underwent an ulnar nerve compression release at the elbow using the endoscopic technique with Agee (Micro-Aire Sugical Instruments, Charlottesville, VA, EUA) equipment from January 2016 to January 2020.

Results Symptoms of ulnar nerve compression improved in all patients; on average, they resumed their work activities in 26.5 days. There was no recurrence or need for another procedure. In addition, there were no severe procedure-related complications, such as infection and nerve or vascular injury. One patient had transient paresthesia of the sensory branches to the forearm, with complete functional recovery in 8 weeks.

Conclusion Our study shows that the endoscopic release of the ulnar nerve at the elbow with the Agee equipment is a safe, reliable technique with good outcomes.

Keywords

ulnar nerve - cubital tunnel syndrome - nerve compression syndromes - elbow - paresthesia - minimally invasive surgical procedures

Work developed in the Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.




Publication History

Received: 07 December 2021

Accepted: 16 May 2022

Article published online:
29 June 2023

© 2023. Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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