Surgical Treatment of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Trends and the Influence of Patient and Surgeon Characteristics

Abstract

Purpose: To examine trends in and determinants of the use of different procedures for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Florida State Ambulatory Surgery Database for 2005 to 2012. We selected all patients who underwent in situ decompression, transposition, or other surgical treatments for cubital tunnel syndrome. We tested trends in the use of these techniques and performed a multivariable analysis to examine associations among patient characteristics, surgeon case volume, and the use of different techniques.

Results: Of the 26,164 patients who underwent surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome, 80% underwent in situ decompression, 16% underwent transposition, and 4% underwent other surgical treatment. Over the study period, there was a statistically significant increase in the use of in situ release and a decrease in the use of transposition. Women and patients treated by surgeons with a higher cubital tunnel surgery case volume underwent in situ release with a statistically higher incidence than other techniques.

Conclusions: In Florida, surgeon practice reflected the widespread adoption of in situ release as the primary treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome, and its relative incidence increased during the study period. Patient demographics and surgeon-level factors influenced procedure selection.

Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.

Keywords: Cubital tunnel syndrome; in situ decompression; medial epicondylectomy; surgeon volume; ulnar nerve transposition.

Copyright © 2015 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1. The establishment of the study cohort

Figure 2. Trends in the use of each procedure type between 2005 and 2012