ULNAR-NERVE TRANSPOSITION FOR ULNAR NEUROPATHY AT THE ELBOW?

We carried out a prospective randomised studycomparing medial epicondylectomy with anterior transposition for the treatment of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. The mean follow-up period was 4.5 years and we assessed the patients neurologically and orthopaedically. Neither procedure appeared to have a significant effect on elbow function. Our study showed better results after medial epicondylectomy; in particular patient satisfaction was higher than after ulnar nerve transposition. There were no significant differences in motor power or nerve-conduction rates and sensory fibres appeared to be more vulnerable to devascularisation. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1996;78-B:777-9