Ömer Faruk Bucak, Pınar Öztop Çiftkaya, Emel Ece Özcan-Ekşi, Demet Ofluoğlu
Journal of Academic Research in Medicine - 2025;15(3):146-151
Objective: To evaluate the association between generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) and electrodiagnostically confirmed ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE), and to examine relationships between hypermobility measures and electrophysiological severity. Methods: In a cross-sectional study at a tertiary center, 96 adults were enrolled: 48 UNE patients (confirmed by standardized nerve conduction studies) and 48 age/sex-matched controls. Hypermobility was assessed with age-specific Beighton thresholds, following the 2017 framework. GJH status incorporated the five-part questionnaire when borderline. Primary electrophysiological outcomes were distal motor latency (DML) and across-elbow/ below-elbow motor conduction velocity (AE-BE MCV). Group comparisons used t-test/ chi²; associations used Spearman correlation (two-tailed alpha=0.05). Results: Hypermobility indices were higher in UNE versus controls: Beighton score 3.4+/-2.1 vs. 2.0+/-1.5 (p=0.021) and GJH prevalence 68.8% vs 16.7% (p<0.001). Among UNE patients, age correlated with worse electrophysiology (DML: r=0.33, p=0.027; AE-BE MCV: r=-0.30, p=0.034). Higher Beighton scores are related to longer DML (r=0.28, p=0.041) and lower AE-BE MCV (r=-0.27, p=0.041). Longer symptom duration showed similar patterns (DML: r=0.34, p=0.023; AE-BE MCV: r=-0.32, p=0.028). Body mass index was not associated with the measured outcome (p>0.05). The presence of GJH correlated with higher DML (r=0.22, p=0.040) and lower AE-BE MCV (r=-0.24, p=0.036). Conclusion: GJH is more prevalent in UNE and is linked to electrophysiological evidence of segmental conduction impairment at the elbow. Recognizing hypermobility may help stratify risk and expedite early evaluation and tailored prevention.
