The Efficacy of Combined Decompression of Carpal and Cubital Tunnel in the Setting of Cervical Spine Stenosis: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background and objective Hand numbness, often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), significantly impacts the quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined carpal and cubital tunnel decompression (CCTD) in patients with concurrent mild to moderate cervical spine stenosis when compared to single decompression procedures. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 100 patients who underwent decompression surgery for hand numbness and concurrent cervical spine stenosis, with positive electromyography (EMG) results in some cases, between January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. Surgical interventions included carpal tunnel decompression (CTD, n=91), cubital tunnel decompression (CuTD, n=4), and combined procedures (n=5). Results Of the 100 patients (aged range: 32-92 years), 11 with coexisting cervical stenosis reported neck pain. Those who underwent CCTD reported significantly lower pain severity and interference scores, as well as better functional outcomes, compared to single decompression groups. Despite the small number of patients (n=5) in the combined decompression group, preliminary findings suggest potential benefits related to this approach. Conclusions Simultaneous decompression of the carpal and cubital tunnels may offer superior symptom relief and functional improvement in patients with mild to moderate cervical spine stenosis, highlighting the importance of addressing cervical spine pathology in cases of hand numbness. However, further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these preliminary results and better understand the efficacy of combined decompression for complex cases.