Cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve) syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome belongs to a group of conditions called peripheral compressive neuropathy. It comes from the entrapment of the ulnar nerve at the level of the elbow. Early symptoms include numbness and tingling in the ring and small fingers. Later symptoms can include difficulty moving your fingers in and out (abducting and adducting the fingers), difficulty crossing your fingers, difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoes, loss of muscle bulk in the hand. The goal of treatment is to prevent the development of these later symptoms, which, when they occur, could signal permanent nerve damage. Treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome could include splinting, therapy, or surgery to remove the compression from the nerve. Dr. Yu will assess the level of your condition, and make a recommendation to try to maintain and restore as much function in your hand as possible.

Read more:

  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
  • The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)