Ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome in baseball players

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is a recognized clinical issue.
• Baseball players are susceptible to medial elbow pathologies.
• This study focuses on a specific surgical intervention for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of surgical correction for ulnar nerve entrapment in baseball players.
• To assess the return-to-play rates and long-term results after anterior ulnar nerve transfer.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 19 skeletally mature baseball players with ulnar nerve entrapment underwent surgery.
• The surgical procedure involved anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve.
• Nerve placement was deep to the flexor-pronator muscle group.

Main Results:

• Nine out of 19 players successfully returned to playing baseball.
• Six players stopped playing due to unresolved elbow problems.
• Four players were lost to follow-up, limiting complete analysis.

Conclusions:

• Ulnar nerve entrapment is a significant issue for baseball players, potentially part of a medial elbow spectrum.
• Surgical treatment, specifically anterior nerve transfer, can be effective but does not guarantee a return to sport for all athletes.
• Further research may be needed to optimize outcomes and identify predictive factors for success.