• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative ultrasonographic findings and usefulness in ulnar neuropathy around elbow. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with ulnar neuropathy were performed preoperative ultrasonogram. The route, location, thickness of the ulnar nerve and space occupying lesion through longitudinal scan were evaluated. Cross-sectional areas of the ulnar nerve were measured at the level of medial epicondyle and 3 cm proximal and distal to the medial epicondyle through axial scan. Correlations between swelling ratio of ulnar nerve and eletrophysiologic study and preoperative Dellon's assessment were checked. Results: In 21 cases (95.6%) of total 22 cases, diffuse swelling of the ulnar nerve around elbow were identified. 4 cases had space occupying lesions including 3 ganglionic cysts and 1 heterotopic ossification. Cross sectional areas at the level of medial epicondyle were significantly larger than at the level of 3 cm proximal and distal to the medial epicondyle (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant correlations between swelling ratio of ulnar nerve and eletrophysiologic study and preoperative clinical assessment (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that ultrasonography was helpful to detect etiology of ulnar neuropathy around elbow such as space occupying lesion, morphological change or dislocation of ulnar nerve. It could be useful tool for diagnosis and treatment in patients with ulnar neuropathy at elbow.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2008

Nerve compression is caused by external force or internal pathology, which symptom develops along nerve distribution. There are median, ulnar and radial nerve compression neuropathies below elbow. Carpal tunnel syndrome at the flexor retinaculum is most common among all the entrapment neuropathies. Other causes of median nerve neuropathy include Struther's ligament, biceps aponeurosis, pronator teres, FDS aponeurosis and aberrant muscles, which induce pronator syndrome or anterior interosseous nerve syndrome. Ulnar nerve can be compressed at the elbow by arcade of Struther, medial epicondylar groove, FCU two heads, which develops cubital tunnel syndrome, at the wrist by ganglion, fracture of hamate hook and vascular problem, which develops Guyon's canal syndrome. Radial tunnel syndrome is caused by supinator muscle, which compresses its deep branch. Treatment is conservative at initial stage like NSAID, night splint or steroid injection. If symptom persists, operative treatment should be considered after electrodiagnostic or imaging studies.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2007

Purpose: The morphological study and dynamic stability of the ulnar nerve around the elbow joint was investigated in asymptomatic normal population using ultrasonography. The purpose of this study is to provide fundamental data for ultrasonographic diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy in cubital tunnel syndrome. Materials and Methods: Fifty cases of 25 healthy male volunteers, aged between 20 to 30 years, included in this study. High resolution 7.5 MHz linear probe was used to examine the ulnar nerve in axial and longitudinal views. In a longitudinal view, the course, position and the thickness of nerve were monitored, the diameter of ulnar nerve and dynamic stability at elbow flexion and extension were measured in an axial view at four different points; 1cm proximal to medial epicondyle, behind the medial epicondyle, entrance to Osborne ligament, and 1cm distal to Osborne ligament. Results: The short diameters of ulnar nerve at elbow extension at four anatomic points were 2.66 mm, 2.97 mm, 2.64 mm, and 2.69 mm and the long diameters were 4.61 mm, 4.56 mm, 4.36 mm, and 4.37 mm, which showed no significant change at each point. However, at elbow flexion, the short diameters were changed to 2.72 mm, 2.34 mm, 2.65 mm, and 2.41 mm and the long diameters into 4.49 mm, 5.40 mm, 4.16 mm, and 4.66 mm. At elbow flexion, significant morphologic change was observed in the medial epicondyle area, and the diameter of the ulnar nerve was shortest at the entrance of Osborne ligament both at flexion and extension. In terms of dynamic stability, nine subluxations and seven dislocations were observed. Conclusion: This study shows dynamic instability and a morphological change of long and short diameters of ulnar nerve at flexion and extension in a normal person, which should be considered in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2004

후내측 접근법을 이용한 척골신경 감압술, OK 술식, 그리고 관절막 절제술은 주관절 퇴행성 관절염으로 인한 척골 신경증에 임상증상을 호전시킬 수 있는 용이한 술식으로 사료되었다.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2008

Compression neuropathy around elbow and wrist are one of the common disturbing problems in the upper extremity. The understanding of normal nerve architectures and pathophysiologic changes in compression neuropathy is important to interpret the ultrasonographic images correctly. Compression neuropathies have characteristic ultrasonographic imaging features of flattened nerve at compression and hypoechoic swollen nerve with loss of fascicular patterns at proximal segments. Dynamic ultrasonographic imagings on motion can show dymanic subluxation of ulnar nerve and medial head of triceps muscle over the medial epicondyle in snapping triceps syndrome. Dynamic compression of median nerve also can be visualized in pronator teres syndrome by dynamic imaging studies. A quantitative measures of cross sectional area or compression ratio can be helpful to diagnose compression neuropathies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome. With the clinical features and electeophysiologic studies, the untrasonographic imagings are useful tool for evaluation of the compression neuropathies in the upper extremities.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression in primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy. Materials and Methods: Between May of 2006 and July of 2014, a total of 43 patients who had undergone surgery for primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy were included in this study. We divided the subjects into two groups according to the method of surgery: group 1 (n=18) received mini-open ulnar nerve decompression only, and group 2 (n=25) received arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression. Patients were assessed for the following clinical outcomes: visual analogue scales (VAS) score, range of motion of the elbow joint, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) at the time before surgery and 6 months after surgery. We analyzed the recovery of the ulnar nerve by the McGowan grade and Bishop rating score preoperatively and at 6 months after the surgery. Results: The VAS score, range of motion of the elbow joint, MEPS, and DASH showed significant statistical difference after the surgery (p<0.05). However, between the 2 groups, there was no significant difference. For the McGowan grade, all cases of both groups-except one case each group-showed at least one grade improvement. Moreover, group 2 showed a greater significant difference than group 1 (p=0.001). At the final follow-up, according to the Bishop rating score, group 2 had a greater significant difference than group 1 (p=0.036). Conclusion: Arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression in primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy is a useful technique, which has several advantages, including the benefits associated with a minimally invasive surgery and also the improvement of elbow joint function and excellent recovery of the ulnar nerve.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.92-94
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• 2014

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2020

An intraneural ganglion in the peripheral nerve and the resulting ulnar neuropathy at the elbow are uncommon and may show various symptoms ranging from local pain to motor and sensory impairment. We report a case of a 76-year-old man who was diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy caused by an intraneural ganglion derived from the elbow. We also discuss the pathophysiology, treatment, prognosis, and diagnostic value of ultrasonography in neuropathy caused by a ganglion.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2016

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) may seem easy to diagnose when the characteristic clinical manifestations are present, and electrodiagnostic studies have high sensitivity, although they are non-localizing in some cases and unable to reveal structural lesions. Ultrasonography is noninvasive and able to find the exact location of the lesion and visualize perineural structures. We present two cases of UNE in which we found hypoechoic mass lesions near medial epicondyle with ultrasonography and discuss its usefulness in diagnosis of UNE.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of current study was to review the surgical treatment results in patients with a ganglion cyst involving peripheral nerves and to suggest the poor prognostic factor. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients having neurologic symptoms caused by ganglion cyst were treated operatively between 1995 and 2000. The peripheral nerves involved were the tibial nerve in three patients, suprascapular nerve, common peroneal nerve, radial nerve, and ulnar nerve in two patients each, and median nerve in one patient. Pain was present in six patients, sensory disturbance or motor weakness was seen in seven patients each; and sensory disturbance and motor weakness were concurrently present in four patients. Results: In all six patients who complained of preoperative pain, the pain was resolved after surgery. Improvements were seen in five of seven patients who had preoperative sensory disturbance and in all patients who had preoperative motor weakness. Complete sensory recovery was obtained in only two of four patients with preoperative sensory disturbance and motor weakness, indicating a poor prognosis factor. Conclusion: Early accurate diagnosis and early excision of these ganglion cysts causing compression neuropathy could produce excellent clinical results.