What is ULNAR NERVE COMPRESSION (Cubital tunnel syndromeulnar neuritis)?
Cubital tunnel syndrome is entrapment of the ulnar nerve typically at the elbow. It is the second commonest cause of nerve entrapment in the body (the commonest cause is carpal tunnel syndrome with entrapment of the median nerve). The typical symptoms are of numbness and tingling in the ring and little fingers and on the little finger side of the palm. It may be associated with weakening of the muscles, and sometimes wasting (thinning) of the small muscles in the hand and in time contractures of the ring and little fingers may develop. Typically the onset is gradual, starting with numbness and tingling, particularly at night, and it may then become continuous. Occasionally the onset may be very sudden often for no obvious reason. Some patients present only with weakness in the hand and others only with numbness but commonly there is a combination, particularly as the condition progresses.
