The anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel in a South African body donor sample

Purpose The ulnar nerve (UN) courses through the cubital tunnel, which is a potential site of entrapment. Anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel may contribute towards cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), however, these are not well described. The aim was to compare the range of variations and dimen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 777 - 785
Main Authors:	Munro, Sophie Rose, Mac Dermott, Kerryn-Anne, Keet, Kerri
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Paris Springer Paris 01-06-2024 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Aged Aged, 80 and over Anatomic Variation Anatomic Variations Anatomy Cadaver Connective tissue Cubital Tunnel Syndrome - surgery Dissection Elbow Elbow - anatomy & histology Female Health sciences Humans Imaging Internet resources Male Males Medicine Medicine & Public Health Middle Aged Orthopedics Radiology South Africa Surgery Ulnar Nerve - anatomy & histology Variation South Africa Ulnar nerve Cubital tunnel syndrome Anatomical variation Cubital tunnel retinaculum Anconeus epitrochlearis Cubital tunnel Elbow
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Summary:	Purpose The ulnar nerve (UN) courses through the cubital tunnel, which is a potential site of entrapment. Anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel may contribute towards cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), however, these are not well described. The aim was to compare the range of variations and dimensions of the cubital tunnel and the UN between sexes and sides of the body. Methods Sixty elbows from 30 embalmed bodies (17 males and 13 females) were dissected. The prevalence of the cubital tunnel retinaculum (CuTR) or anconeus epitrochlearis (AE) forming the roof of the tunnel was determined. The length, width, thickness, and diameter of the cubital tunnel and its roof were measured. The diameter of the UN was measured. Results The AE was present in 5%, whereas the CuTR was present in the remaining 95% of elbows. The tunnel was 32.1 ± 4.8 mm long, 23.4 ± 14.2 mm wide, 0.18 ± (0.22–0.14) mm thick, and the median diameter was 7.9 ± (9.0–7.1) mm, while the median diameter of the UN was 1.6 ± (1.8–1.3) mm. The AE was thicker than the CuTR ( p < 0.001) and the UN was larger in elbows with the AE present ( p = 0.002). The tunnel was longer in males ( p < 0.001) and wider on the right ( p = 0.014). Conclusion The roof of the cubital tunnel was more frequently composed of the CuTR. The cubital tunnel varied in size between sexes and sides. Future research should investigate the effect of the variations in patients with CuTS.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1279-8517 0930-1038 1279-8517
DOI:	10.1007/s00276-024-03327-8