ANATOMO-FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OF THE CUBITAL NERVE: PREMISES FOR POST COMPRESSIVE SYNDROME REHABILITATION

Abstract

Introduction. Derived from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, the ulnar nerve presents several areas of increased vulnerability from the topographic and clinical point of view: the olecranian area and hypotenar eminence in the Guyon canal. Despite the frequency of ulnar nerve injuries, affecting pinch and grip performance and the fine movements of the hand, diagnosis and rehabilitation are stil a chalenge. Objectives. Our work intends to make an update on the importance of the clinical and functional evaluation in ulnar nerve entrapment in different areas and also to highlight the effectiveness of early intervention of the rehabilitation program (in interdisciplinary context) and the role of orthosis in the management of ulnar nerve injury functional consequences. Materials and methods. Analysis of biomedical literature related to ulnar nerve injuries. Medical studies from the last ten years were searched in the PubMed, Google Scholar, Medscape, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACRM) databases. Discussion. Orthosis in ulnar tunnel syndrome are applied with the elbow at 30°-70° flexion and the wrist in neutral position. In Guyon canal syndrome orthoses are applied with the immobilisation of the wrist in neutral position and with the fingers left free.

Keywords

• ulnar tunnel syndrome
• ulnar neuropathy
• splints
• guyon′s canal