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The symptoms affect just one particular part of the body, depending on which nerve is affected. The diagnosis is largely clinical and can be confirmed with diagnostic nerve blocks. Occasionally imaging and electrophysiology studies aid in the diagnosis. Timely diagnosis is important as untreated chronic nerve compression may cause permanent damage.
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.
Nerve entrapment is caused primarily by two physical forces on soft tissue: compression and tension. [4] Compression will squeeze the nerve and impair its local microcirculatory environment which commonly happens in anatomic tunnels. Tension is a pulling force, often caused by scarring which impedes nerve mobility during limb movements.
Ulnar neuropathy is a disorder involving the ulnar nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may be caused by entrapment of the ulnar nerve with resultant numbness and tingling. [3] It may also cause weakness or paralysis of the muscles supplied by the nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may affect the elbow as cubital tunnel syndrome.
The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus. The median nerve originates from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus, [1] and has contributions from ventral roots of C6-C7 (lateral cord) and C8 and T1 (medial cord). [1] [2]
The artery usually bifurcates near the apex (inferior part) of the cubital fossa into the radial artery (superficial) and ulnar artery (deeper) The median nerve; The ulnar nerve is also in the area, but is not in the cubital fossa; it occupies a groove on the posterior aspect of the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
The brachial plexus is made up of spinal nerves that are part of the peripheral nervous system. It includes sensory and motor nerves that innervate the upper limbs. The brachial plexus includes the last four cervical nerves (C5-C8) and the 1st thoracic nerve (T1). Each of those nerves splits into smaller trunks, divisions, and cords.
The theory is that the radial nerve becomes irritated and/or inflamed from friction caused by compression by muscles in the forearm. [1]Some speculate that radial tunnel syndrome is a type of repetitive strain injury (RSI), but there is no detectable pathophysiology and even the existence of this disorder is questioned.