Is it possible to confuse Cubital Tunnel Syndrome with Carpal Tunnel Syndrom?
There shouldn’t be any way to confuse them…Carpal tunnel syndrome is a problem of the median nerve at the wrist and cubital tunnel syndrome is a problem of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. The EMG would clearly differentiate between the two. That being said, someone might use the abbreviation “CTS” which usually is used only for carpal tunnel and confuse them after the fact. Clinically they should be easily distinguished also…numbness affects the thumb/index/middle fingers for carpal tunnel and pinky finger for cubital tunnel. Pain for carpal tunnel is mainly hand and wrist though it can radiate up the forearm. Pain for cubital tunnel is often at the elbow as well as wrist hand. Also, it could be BOTH CTS and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (of which cubital tunnel is one type). Some are prone to multiple entrapments, esp. if you have diabetes, hypothyroidism, or a number of other conditions. Problems in these nerves higher up, including the brachial plexus and neck remain possible too
