Ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency affects cubital tunnel syndrome during throwing motion: a cadaveric biomechanical study.

Mihata, Teruhisa; Akeda, Masaki; Künzler, Michael; McGarry, Michelle H; Neo, Masashi; Lee, Thay Q (2019). Ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency affects cubital tunnel syndrome during throwing motion: a cadaveric biomechanical study. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 28(9), pp. 1758-1763. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jse.2019.02.009

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BACKGROUND

In throwing athletes, cubital tunnel syndrome and insufficiency of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) are common pathologic processes of the elbow. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of UCL tears on ulnar nerve elongation in the simulated throwing position.

METHODS

Eight fresh frozen cadaveric upper limbs were tested at the simulated late cocking to acceleration phase in the throwing motion using an elbow testing system. Elbow valgus laxity and ulnar nerve length and strain under 2 Nm of applied valgus torque (maximum torque in cadaveric elbow) were evaluated. Paired t-tests were used to compare all data between intact UCLs and UCLs after complete transection of the anterior oblique ligament. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate relationships between elbow valgus laxity and ulnar nerve strain.

RESULTS

Elbow valgus laxity significantly increased after transection of the UCL. Ulnar nerve length after UCL transection was significantly greater than that in the intact condition at 60° (P = .006) and 90° of elbow flexion (P < .0001). In addition, ulnar nerve strain was positive (increased) at 60° and 90° of elbow flexion. Maximum ulnar nerve strain at 90° of elbow flexion was 3.9% ± 0.9% when the UCL was intact and 6.8% ± 0.7% after transection. UCL transection yielded significant positive correlation between elbow valgus laxity and ulnar nerve strain (P = .006; r = .4714).

CONCLUSION

Increased elbow valgus laxity due to UCL insufficiency may cause elongation of the ulnar nerve and exacerbate cubital tunnel syndrome during the throwing motion.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Orthopaedic Surgery

UniBE Contributor:

Künzler, Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1058-2746

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Kathrin Aeschlimann

Date Deposited:

31 Oct 2019 08:35

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:31

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.jse.2019.02.009

PubMed ID:

31053390

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Cubital tunnel elbow elongation ulnar collateral ligament ulnar nerve valgus laxity

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.134151

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/134151

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