Cubital tunnel syndrome: a retrospective review of 53 anterior subcutaneous transpositions.

Fifty-three cases of cubital tunnel syndrome were treated by anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve. All patients were assessed by an independent examiner at a mean follow-up of 32 months. McGowan's rating scale, as modified by Goldberg, was used preoperatively and at follow-up. Preoperatively, five cases were classified grade I, 37 grade IIA, eight grade IIB and three grade III. Thoracic outlet syndrome was also present in 7 cases. At follow-up, 44 cases were grade 0, three grade I, five grade IIA and one grade IIB. Forty-four of the 53 cases had resolved and the other nine had improved. Subcutaneous transposition is a reliable and effective surgical option. The result is less satisfactory if a thoracic outlet syndrome is also present. Copyright 2000 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.