Ulnar neuropathy

Key takeaways

Ulnar neuropathy belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Ulnar neuropathy to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Ulnar neuropathy from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Ulnar neuropathy is a disorder involving the ulnar nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may be caused by entrapment of the ulnar nerve with resultant numbness and tingling. It may also cause weakness or paralysis of the muscles supplied by the nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may affect the elbow as cubital tunnel syndrome. At the wrist a similar neuropathy is ulnar tunnel syndrome.

Signs and symptoms In terms of the signs/symptoms of ulnar neuropathy trauma and pressure to the arm and wrist, especially the elbow, the medial side of the wrist, and other sites close to the course of the ulnar nerve are of interest in this condition. Many people complain of sensory changes in the fourth and fifth digits. Rarely, an individual actually notices that the unusual sensations are mainly in the medial side of the ring finger (fourth digit). Sometimes the third digit is also involved, especially on the ulnar (medial) side. The sensory changes can be a feeling of numbness or a tingling, pain rarely occurs in the hand. Complaints of pain tend to be more common in the arm, up to and including the elbow area, which is probably the most common site of pain in an ulnar neuropathy.

Causes Among the causes of ulnar neuropathy are the following-

Much more commonly, ulnar neuropathy is caused by overuse of the triceps muscle and repetitive stress combined with poor ergonomics. Overused and hypertonic triceps muscle causes inflammation in the tendon and adhesions with the connective tissue surrounding that tendon and muscle. These in turn impinge on or trap the ulnar nerve. Ulnar neuropathy resulting from repetitive stress is amenable to massage and can usually be fully reversed without cortisone or surgery. Center for Occupational and Environmental Neurology, Baltimore, MD has this to say: "Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) refers to many different diagnoses of the neck/shoulder, arm, and wrist/hand area usually associated with work-related ergonomic stressors. Other terms used for Repetitive Strain Injuries are overuse syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, and cumulative trauma disorders. Some of the more common conditions under these headings include: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome-compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel at the elbow."

Pathophysiology

In regards to the pathophysiology of ulnar neuropathy:the axon, and myelin can be affected. Within the axon, fascicles to individual muscles could be involved, with subsequent motor unit loss and amplitude decrease. Conduction block means impaired transmission via a part of the nerve. Conduction block can mean myelin damage to the involved area, slowing of conduction or significant spreading out of the temporal profile of the response with axonal integrity is a hallmark of demyelination.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic procedures to determine ulnar neuropathy include:

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) a nerve conduction study that measures the speed that a nerve impulse travels through the nerve Physical exam and medical history Complete blood count Urinalysis Imaging such as an X-ray, MRI or ultrasound Histology study Ulnar nerve neuropathy at the elbow or the wrist can be assessed by testing for a positive Froment's sign. Little finger abduction and adduction can be tested as well.

Treatment Treatment for ulnar neuropathy can entail NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Other options to surgery are a cortisone injection, and use of a splint, to secure the elbow, a conservative procedure endorsed by some. In cases where surgery is needed, cubital tunnel release, where the ligament of the cubital tunnel is cut, thereby alleviating pressure on nerve can be performed. Treatment for the common occurrence of ulnar neuropathy resulting from overuse, with no fractures or structural abnormalities, is treatment massage, ice, and anti-inflammatories. Specifically, deep tissue massage to the triceps, myofascial release for the upper arm connective tissue, and cross-fiber friction to the triceps tendon.

Prognosis In terms of the prognosis of ulnar neuropathy early nerve decompression sees a return to normal ability (function), which should be immediate. Severe cubital tunnel syndrome tends to have a faster recovery process in individuals below the age of 70, as opposed to those above such an age. Finally, revisional surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome does not result well for those individuals over 50 years of age.

See also ulnar nerve cubital tunnel nerve compression syndrome

References

Further reading "NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search - 20045060 - Do comorbid ulnar symptoms or ulnar neuropathy affect the prognosis of workers with carpal tunnel syndrome?". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2016-07-22. Yoon, Joon Shik; Walker, Francis O.; Cartwright, Michael S. (1 February 2010). "Ulnar Neuropathy With Normal Electrodiagnosis and Abnormal Nerve Ultrasound". Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 91 (2): 318–320. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2009.10.010. ISSN 0003-9993. PMC 2892824. PMID 20159139. Warner, Mark A.; Warner, David O.; Matsumoto, Joseph Y.; Harper, Michel C.; Schroeder, Darrell R.; Maxson, Pamela M. (1 January 1999). "Ulnar Neuropathy in Surgical Patients". The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. 90 (1): 54–59. doi:10.1097/00000542-199901000-00009. ISSN 0003-3022. PMID 9915312. Retrieved 23 July 2016.

External links

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Ulnar neuropathy

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Ulnar neuropathy claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Ulnar neuropathy before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Ulnar neuropathy ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Ulnar neuropathy

In research: Ulnar neuropathy appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Ulnar neuropathy in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Ulnar neuropathy is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Peripheral nervous system disorders, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Ulnar neuropathy outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study Ulnar neuropathy in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Ulnar neuropathy means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Ulnar neuropathy out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ulnar neuropathy in simple terms?

Ulnar neuropathy is a disorder involving the ulnar nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may be caused by entrapment of the ulnar nerve with resultant numbness and tingling.

Why does Ulnar neuropathy matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Ulnar neuropathy?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Ulnar neuropathy.