Tayfun BACAKSIZ, Mehmet MADEN
Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi - 2026;9(1):76-80
Aim: This study aims to compare two prevalent surgical techniques for cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS): ulnar nerve in situ decompression (ISD) and subcutaneous anterior transposition (SAT), with an emphasis on clinical outcomes, surgical period, and complications. Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent surgery for CuTS between 2018 and 2023 and were followed up for a minimum of 12 months were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.36+/-12.16 years, and the mean follow-up period was 48.36+/-24.47 months. The mean surgical time was significantly shorter in the ISD group compared to the SAT group (34.76+/-8.65 min vs. 55.41+/-13.25 min; p<0.001). At the last follow-up, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding QuickDASH, VAS, Modified Bishop score, and elbow ROM values (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions: In cubital tunnel syndrome surgery, ISD and SAT techniques provide similar results in terms of clinical efficacy. However, ISD can be as a practical and effective surgical option in the appropriate patient group due to its shorter surgical time and limited surgical dissection requirements.
