![]() Patients may also notice the symptoms are worse during the day when the elbow is flexed with activity. The symptoms may be worse at night, as we tend to sleep without elbow flexed, further compressing the nerve. Patients report numbness, tingling or burning in the ulnar nerve distribution of the hand discussed above-small and part of ring fingers. Repetitive trauma may be associated with the development of Guyon’s canal syndrome Diagnosis Symptoms Note the distribution for both the ulnar nerve and radial nerve along the small/ring finger and top of hand.Ĭlassic innervation for the ulnar nerve shown in blue This is the classic distribution and wide variation is known to exist.Ĭlassic innervation of the median nerve shown in grey for the right hand from the bottom and top. The ulnar nerve function allows the hand to work in smooth unison. ![]() ![]() The ulnar nerve also supplies most of the muscles of the hand and gives approximately 50% of the grip power for the hand. Classically, the ulnar nerve gives sensation to the small finger and part of the ring finger. The median nerve gives sensation to the thumb, index, middle, and the half of the ring finger on the thumb side. The radial nerve gives sensation to the top of the hand. There are three nerves which make a normal hand function. This “tunnel” which the nerve traverses is fixed in size-any inflammation of the tunnel causes compression of the nerve leading to numbness and tingling felt in the hand.Ī right hand viewed in cross section showing the ulnar nerve and artery traversing Guyon’s canal. The nerve travels through a defined space in the elbow termed the cubital tunnel. As the nerve then travels down the arm, the nerve gains access to the arm at the level of the elbow on the inside (medial) aspect. The ulnar nerve, like all other peripheral nerves begins in the spinal cord and accesses the arm via the brachial plexus. Compression at the wrist (Guyon’s canal) is usually associated with repetitive trauma or ganglions. Ulnar nerve compression at the wrist is less common than at the elbow. The most common site of compression of the nerve is the inside portion of the elbow-the cubital tunnel. The ulnar nerve is responsible for approximately 50% of our hand strength. The ulnar nerve is one of three nerves which make the hand work and feel. When this nerve is irritated either by trauma or compression-it causes pain, numbness, tingling or burning into the small finger and part of the ring finger. However, there is little funny about injury to the nerve. The ulnar nerve is often called the funny bone at the elbow. A Patient’s Guide to Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Wrist
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