The pattern of muscle involvement in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pattern of muscle involvement in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study evaluated all patients referred for upper limb electrodiagnostic study (EDX) during 2007-2011 and included. patients with clinical signs and symptoms of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. All patients had nerve conduction studies (NCS) for ulnar neuropathy. Needle electromyography (EMG) of four ulnar innervated muscles, flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), flexor digitrom profoundus (FDP), first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM)) was evaluated.

RESULTS

During the study period 34 (23 males and 11 females) patients were diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and three of them had bilateral involvement. Muscle involvement by EMG was as follows: FDI: 91.9%, ADM: 91.3%, FCU: 64.9% and FDP: 56.8%.

CONCLUSION

In this study, EMG abnormalities of nerve damage were presented more commonly in the FCU muscle than in the FDP in patients with ulnar nerve lesion at the elbow.