| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
From the Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology (Drs. Beekman and Visser) and Radiology (Dr. Schoemaker), St. Elisabeth Hospital, and Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology (Dr. van der Plas), TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, Departments of Neurology (Drs. Van den Berg and Wokke) and Clinical Neurophysiology (Dr. Franssen), Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, and Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Dr. Uitdehaag), VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. R. Beekman, Department of Neurology, Atrium Medical Centre, PO Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, the Netherlands; e-mail: r_beekman01{at}planet.nl
Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of high-resolution sonography in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE).
Methods: Sonographic ulnar nerve diameter measurement was compared at three levels around the medial epicondyle with a criterion standard including clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics in a cohort of 123 patients presenting with clinical signs of UNE. UNE or probable UNE was diagnosed in 84 patients and a different condition in 39 patient controls. Reference values were obtained in 56 healthy volunteers.
Results: One hundred thirty-six affected arms were studied in 123 patients (UNE in 82, probable UNE in 9, and a different condition in 45 affected arms). Patients with UNE had a larger ulnar nerve diameter than patient controls (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity of sonography was 80%, specificity 91%, positive likelihood ratio 9, and negative likelihood ratio 0.2. The highest diagnostic yield was found in patients in whom electrodiagnostic studies showed signs of ulnar neuropathy but could not localize the lesion (17/20 cases, 86%) and in patients who had motor conduction velocity slowing across the elbow without conduction block (32/37 cases, 86%).
Conclusions: High-resolution sonography is an accurate and easily applied test for the diagnosis of UNE. The authors recommend its use in addition to electrodiagnostic studies because it improves the reliability of the diagnosis of UNE.
Received February 26, 2003. Accepted in final form October 31, 2003.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  H H A M Dunselman and L H Visser The clinical, electrophysiological and prognostic heterogeneity of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, December 1, 2008; 79(12): 1364 - 1367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Tagliafico, E. Resmini, R. Nizzo, L. E Derchi, F. Minuto, M. Giusti, C. Martinoli, and D. Ferone The pathology of the ulnar nerve in acromegaly Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2008; 159(4): 369 - 373. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Thoirs, M. A. Williams, and M. Phillips Ultrasonographic Measurements of the Ulnar Nerve at the Elbow: Role of Confounders J. Ultrasound Med., May 1, 2008; 27(5): 737 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Stewart Ulnar neuropathies: where, why, and what to do? Practical Neurology, August 1, 2006; 6(4): 218 - 229. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. H.M.A. Bartels, R. Beekman, J.H.J. Wokke, M.C. Schoemaker, M.L. Lee, and L.H. Visser Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: Follow-up and prognostic factors determining outcome Neurology, May 10, 2005; 64(9): 1664 - 1665. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Beekman, J. H.J. Wokke, M. C. Schoemaker, M. L. Lee, and L. H. Visser Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: Follow-up and prognostic factors determining outcome Neurology, November 9, 2004; 63(9): 1675 - 1680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Other articles noted Evid. Based Med., July 1, 2004; 9(4): 127 - 128. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Ultrasound: A Developing Tool for Diagnosing Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow Journal Watch Neurology, June 24, 2004; 2004(624): 4 - 4. [Full Text]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
