Cubital tunnel release with two limited incisions: a cadaver study

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common compressive neuropathy in the upper extremity. Treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome consists of releasing the compression on the ulnar nerve with conservative or surgical methods. Nerve decompression is an alternative simple and less invasive procedure. We have proposed a "two limited incisions" technique in order to release the cubital tunnel with two minimal incisions on a cadaveric elbow model. Thirty elbows of 15 formalin-fixed cadavers were studied. The study was performed in two steps. The first step involved a two limited incisions technique. During the second step, dissected anatomic structures were assessed. The cubital retinaculum was opened totally in 27 elbows (91%) and partially in two elbows (7%). The ulnar nerve was injured in one elbow (3%), because of the contracture of the forearm muscles. It was shown that with relaxation of the elements involved, a two limited incisions technique allowed decompression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow to be performed.