Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: short-term follow-up using clinical, electrodiagnostic and sonographic data

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is considered the second most common
entrapment neuropathy. Diagnosis of UNE is made on clinical and
electrophysiological examination. Ultrasound of the ulnar nerve is becoming
more available and has been validated in recent years. There is no gold
standard in the treatment of UNE.
It is well known that mild to moderate cases of UNE, i.e. with solely sensory
symptoms and sensory plus mild motor symptoms respectively, improve over time
with lifestyle changes. Though abovementioned techniques have established their
part in diagnosing UNE, no prospective study yet focused on possible short-term
changes and differences in electrophysiologic and ultrasonographic studies to
monitor the disease or decision making regarding treatment.

Assess the natural course of UNE in patients with mild to moderate symptoms by
using clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic data

Prospective cohort study

The first ultrasound and the second visit with all three examinations is the
extra burden for the patients. This extra burden mainly applies to those
patients with improvement of their complaints, since in clinical practice most
patients will receive a second EMG and/or additional ultrasonographic
examination with deterioration of their symptoms.