ULNAR TUNNEL SYNDROME - Ulnar neuropathy USMLE step 1 lecture , clinical anatomy

Video Description

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow — The clinical features of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) are understood based upon knowledge of the motor and sensory distribution of the ulnar nerve and its major branches. Sensory symptoms of numbness or paresthesiae in the ulnar nerve distribution are the most frequent initial complaints . It is the author’s impression that patients usually experience the sensory symptoms over the volar aspect of the fourth and fifth digits and ulnar aspect of the hand. The presence of sensory symptoms in the dorsal ulnar or palmar cutaneous territory is helpful in localizing the lesion proximal to the distal forearm or wrist, but these complaints are not always present. As an example, in one study of 25 patients with UNE, sensory symptoms involved the digital terminal branches, the palmar cutaneous territory, and the dorsal cutaneous territory in 92, 80, and 72 percent of patients, respectively . Some patients with severe and persistent numbness have sensory symptoms that split the ring finger. Medial elbow pain or aching is common and many patients report referred pain along the medial forearm.