Cubital tunnel syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy, or nerve compression syndrome, a condition caused by compression, traction, or friction of the ulnar nerve at the elbow.^[1] Nerve compression is also known as a trapped nerve. The ulnar nerve travels from the shoulder (brachial plexus) down the length of the arm to the hand. Along its course, it may become compressed at several sites.^[2] At the elbow the ulnar nerve passes through the cubital tunnel, where ulnar nerve compression most commonly occurs.^[2] The ulnar nerve provides motor and sensory innervation to the forearm and hand, and its compression can cause numbness and other symptoms associated with cubital tunnel syndrome, commonly in the fourth and fifth fingers. In many cases the cause is unknown.^[3]

Cubital tunnel syndrome
Other names	Ulnar neuropathy at elbow
Nerves of the left upper extremity. (Ulnar nerve labeled at center)
Specialty	Neurology
Symptoms	Numbness (fingers)
Causes	Nerve entrapment, Tumor
Diagnostic method	CBC, Imaging
Treatment	NSAIDs, Surgery

Cubital tunnel syndrome is an ulnar neuropathy that can be caused not only by compression at the cubital tunnel level itself, but can also be caused by movement of the elbow.^[1] The volume of the cubital tunnel may be reduced when being moved from full extension to a lesser degree of flexion. Symptoms may include a claw hand.^[4]

See also

• Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
• Ulnar nerve
• Nerve compression syndrome
• Cubital tunnel