Sensitivity and localizing significance of motor and sensory electroneurographic parameters in the diagnosis of ulnar nerve lesions at the elbow. A reappraisal.

A total of 103 patients (40 with pure sensory disturbances, 63 with sensory and motor deficits) with ulnar nerve lesions at the elbow were examined neurophysiologically. The measurement of motor conduction velocity across the cubital tunnel alone did not completely localize the lesion. The latency to an ulnar-innervated flexor muscle was of outstanding importance. The measurement of amplitudes was only rarely of localizing significance. The results of sensory recording proved to be important in patients with pure sensory disturbances. In cases with additional motor deficits, sensory recordings were too often abnormal in all segments of the ulnar nerve to be of substantial localizing value.