Diagnostic Cutoff Value for Ultrasonography in the Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic cutoff values of ultrasonographic measurements in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). METHODS: Twenty-five elbows of 23 patients (9 females, 16 males) diagnosed with UNE and 30 elbows of 30 healthy controls (15 females, 15 males) were included in our study. The ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured at the Guyon canal, midforearm, and maximal swelling point (MS) around the elbow (the cubital tunnel inlet in healthy controls). CSA measurements of the ulnar nerve at each point, the Guyon canal-to-MS ulnar nerve area ratio (MS/G), and the midforearm-to-MS ulnar nerve ratio (MS/F) were calculated. RESULTS: Among the variables, only CSA at MS, MS/G, and MS/F displayed significant differences between the control and patient groups. The cutoff value for diagnosing UNE was 8.95 mm(2) for the CSA at MS (sensitivity 93.8%, specificity 88.3%), 1.99 for the MS/G (sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 73.3%), and 1.48 for the MS/F (sensitivity 93.8%, specificity 95.0%). CONCLUSION: These findings may be helpful to diagnose UNE.