To determine differences in clinical outcomes in patients harboring both cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) and cervical radiculopathy and the influence of the so-called double crush syndrome. Both procedures were performed in 24 patients, mean age 55 years; first group of 14 patients underwent CuTS surgery as a first procedure. Second group of 10 patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) then ulnar nerve release (UNR). Two patients underwent bilateral nerve surgery and six multiple cervical discectomies. Surgeries consisted in 26 nerve releases with associated external neurolysis in five, and 34 ACDF procedures, with plating in six. Clinical complaints (mean time 12 months) were sensory in 20 arms, with associated motor weakness and hypothenar atrophy involvement in another six. Electromyography changes were mild (two arms), moderate (16 arms), and severe (eight arms). Mean time of follow-up was 3 years (range 18 months-14 years). Clinical improvement was evidenced in 14 patients. Sensory nerve symptoms improved in 13 limbs in both groups and motor improvement was evident in three patients with UNR as first surgery. A comparative cohort of 20 patients with UNR but without cervical radiculopathy was studied to disclose outcome differences. Of these, 13 patients had clinical improvement. No differences were found among groups. In patients with double crush syndrome, factors that seemed to influence a poor CuTS outcome were evolution of symptoms longer than a year, history of multiple neuropathies or radiculopathies, and ACDF performed before UNR
Keywords : Adult,Aged,Arm,Atrophy,Cervical Vertebrae,Cohort Studies,complications,Crush Syndrome,Cubital Tunnel Syndrome,Decompression,Surgical,Diskectomy,Electrodiagnosis,Electromyography,Female,Follow-Up Studies,history,Humans,Intervertebral Disc Displacement,Male,Middle Aged,Neurosurgery,Neurosurgical Procedures,pathology,Patients,Radiculopathy,Spain,Spinal Fusion,surgery,Syndrome,Time,Treatment Outcome,Ulnar Nerve,Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes,, Tunnel,Surgery,With, physio clinics london
Date of Publication : 2009 Oct
Authors : Galarza M;Gazzeri R;Gazzeri G;Zuccarello M;Taha J;
Organisation : Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. galarza.marcelo@gmail.com
Journal of Publication : Neurosurg Rev
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19685252
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Russian
Spanish
Urdu