Background: Although ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE)is the second most fr equent focal peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb after carpal tunnel syndrom e (CTS), no figures on its prevalence or incidence in the ...Background: Although ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE)is the second most fr equent focal peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb after carpal tunnel syndrom e (CTS), no figures on its prevalence or incidence in the general population hav e been reported. Objective: To determine the incidence of UNE in a general popul ation. Methods: Retrospective study to identify newly diagnosed cases on the bas is of clinical symptoms or signs and slowing of motor conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve across the elbow or surgical evidence of nerve compression in the e lbow region. Results: In the 5- year period from 1995 to 1999, cases among resi dents in Siena Province (Italy) were identified from medical records of electrom yographic services of Local Health District no. 7 and from hospital medical reco rds coded ICD 354.2, 04.49 and 04.6. Siena province has a population of 251,930. In the 5- year period, 311 cases (112 women and 199 men, mean age 56 years, ra nge 15- 86)- were identified. The mean annual crude incidence was 24.7 cases p er 100,000 person- years, and the standardized incidence was 20.9. The sex- sp ecific incidences were 32.7 for men and 17.2 for women. The mean annual crude an d sex- specific incidences remained constant during the study period. The age- specific incidences of whole population and both genders showed an increasing t rend with decade of age. The incidence of “ possible” , “ probable” and “ definite” UNE cases, classified according to level of motor conduction velocit y anomalies and evidence of surgical compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow , was 4.3, 10.6, and 9.8, respectively. The residents of a health subdistrict wh ere manual work is dominant had a higher malespecific incidence (57.1) than othe r areas. Conclusions: This is the first published study on the incidence of UNE. The incidence was higher in males than females and about one- thirteenth that reported for CTS in part of the present geographic area.展开更多
文摘Background: Although ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE)is the second most fr equent focal peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb after carpal tunnel syndrom e (CTS), no figures on its prevalence or incidence in the general population hav e been reported. Objective: To determine the incidence of UNE in a general popul ation. Methods: Retrospective study to identify newly diagnosed cases on the bas is of clinical symptoms or signs and slowing of motor conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve across the elbow or surgical evidence of nerve compression in the e lbow region. Results: In the 5- year period from 1995 to 1999, cases among resi dents in Siena Province (Italy) were identified from medical records of electrom yographic services of Local Health District no. 7 and from hospital medical reco rds coded ICD 354.2, 04.49 and 04.6. Siena province has a population of 251,930. In the 5- year period, 311 cases (112 women and 199 men, mean age 56 years, ra nge 15- 86)- were identified. The mean annual crude incidence was 24.7 cases p er 100,000 person- years, and the standardized incidence was 20.9. The sex- sp ecific incidences were 32.7 for men and 17.2 for women. The mean annual crude an d sex- specific incidences remained constant during the study period. The age- specific incidences of whole population and both genders showed an increasing t rend with decade of age. The incidence of “ possible” , “ probable” and “ definite” UNE cases, classified according to level of motor conduction velocit y anomalies and evidence of surgical compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow , was 4.3, 10.6, and 9.8, respectively. The residents of a health subdistrict wh ere manual work is dominant had a higher malespecific incidence (57.1) than othe r areas. Conclusions: This is the first published study on the incidence of UNE. The incidence was higher in males than females and about one- thirteenth that reported for CTS in part of the present geographic area.
