General Information About Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the compression of the Ulnar Nerve, which runs from the inner part of the arm down to the little finger, as it passes through the tunnel behind the elbow bone (the bone area commonly known to cause an electric shock sensation).
Keeping the elbow bent for a long time (curling the arms while sleeping, talking on the phone for a long time), resting the elbow on hard surfaces (tables, car windows), or elbow fractures damage the nerve.
Numbness, aching, and tingling occurring only in the little finger and half of the ring finger. In advanced stages, difficulty opening the hand, weakness in grasping objects, and muscle wasting are observed.
Carpal tunnel occurs in the wrist and causes numbness in the thumb/index finger. Cubital tunnel, on the other hand, occurs in the elbow and causes numbness in the little/ring fingers.
The physician checks for an electric shock sensation by gently tapping the nerve behind the elbow with their finger (Tinel's test). An EMG (Electromyography) is performed to definitively determine how much the nerve is compressed and the extent of the damage.
Stopping putting pressure on the elbow and wearing special splints (keeping it straight by wrapping a towel) at night to prevent the elbow from bending are the first steps. If there is muscle wasting or the complaints do not resolve, the band over the nerve is surgically cut, or the nerve is moved to the safer front part of the elbow.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
