抄録
We reviewed 18 elbows of 15 patients with cubical tunnel syndrome treated conservatively using a flexible night splint. There were eight women and seven men with an average age of 52.4 years (range 15-74). They were divided into two groups; responders (12 elbows) and non-responders (six elbows). The average age, duration of symptoms, Akahori's staging, motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve conduction velocity, and amplitude of compound muscle action potentials in responders were 57.2 years, 23.3 months, stage 2.8, 45.2m/s, 42.2m/s, and 5.6mV, respectively, while those in non-responders were 58.3 years, 23.5 months, stage 1.7, 52.6m/s, 54.4m/s, and 5.3mV, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups.
Non-responders included three elbows showing less compliance and two with double crush syndrome. The remainder was in stage V according to Akahori's staging. In responders, nine elbows were stage III, and three remainding elbows were in stage I, II, and IV, respectively.
In conclusion, we could not clearly determine indications for conservative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome with flexible night splint in our series. However, we considered that this splint should be applied to the patients not only in stage I and II, but also those in stage III.
