Reoperation in high ulnar neuropathy

Twenty-two reoperations were done on 16 arms in 14 patients who had previously been unsuccessfully treated by neurolysis for cubital tunnel syndrome. For the first reoperation subcutaneous transposition was chosen for 10 arms, and submuscular transposition for six. The symptoms were cured or improved in seven arms, eight were unchanged and one was made worse. In six arms in which first neurolysis and then subcutaneous transposition had been unsuccessful, submuscular transposition was carried out. Five patients were improved or cured, and the symptoms were unchanged in one. Reoperation after ulnar neurolysis therefore gave satisfactory results in about half the cases. Submuscular transposition carried out as a second reoperation may be useful in cases in which subcutaneous transposition had not been successful.