DOI: 10.30565/medalanya.1916352 ISSN: 2587-0319

Endoscopically assisted decompression in cubital tunnel syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological evaluation

Özgün Barış Güntürk, Atilla Çıtlak, Cihan Aslan, Tuğrul Bulut, Ufuk Şener, Muhittin Şener
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Aim: Endoscopic decompression has become an increasingly popular technique for cubital tunnel syndrome in recent years. This study aimed to report the clinical and electrophysiological outcomes of patients treated with the endoscopy-assisted decompression technique for cubital tunnel syndrome.Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients were included in this study. Seven patients (43.8%) were women. The mean age was 47.1 years, and the mean follow-up period was 8.8 months. All surgeries were performed using a 4 mm, 30-degree endoscope, a grooved retractor, and 20 cm blunt-tipped scissors. Dellon’s classification was utilized for preoperative staging, and the modified Bishop grading system was used to evaluate postoperative outcomes. Dynamometric and electromyographic measurements were performed preoperatively and at the final follow-up.Results: Two patients were evaluated as Grade 1, eight as Grade 2, and six as Grade 3 (Dellon). The modified Bishop score was excellent for 13 patients (81.3%), good for two (12.5%), and fair for one (6.3%). The mean ratio of grip strength to the normal side was 70% preoperatively, which increased to 94% postoperatively (p < 0.001). The mean nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was 34.44 m/s preoperatively and 48.74 m/s postoperatively (p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between postoperative NCV and modified Bishop scores (p = 0.136).Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the endoscopic-assisted decompression technique could be successfully performed with low complication rates. Postoperative NCV did not correlate with clinical outcomes.

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