Ulnar nerve elongation and excursion in the cubital tunnel after decompression and anterior transposition.

We studied the elongation and excursion of cadaveric ulnar nerves during elbow flexion in control conditions and after in situ decompression and anterior subcutaneous transposition. We found that the normal nerve had the greatest elongation (23%) and excursion (14 mm) in the epicondylar groove. Decompression did not alter the excursion, but significantly reduced the elongation in the groove (6%) and increased it proximally (19%). After anterior subcutaneous transposition, the nerve segment which was originally in the groove elongated with elbow extension to the same extent as occurred with the normal nerve during flexion. Copyright 2000 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.