ABSTRACT
Surgical decompression or transposition is generally efficacious for cubital tunnel
syndrome. However, recurrence is not rare and its management is both challenging and
difficult. Four patients with refractory cubital tunnel syndrome were operated on
with the vein-wrapping technique, using the autologous saphenous vein. A total of
16 operative procedures were performed on these patients prior to wrapping the ulnar
nerve with a saphenous vein graft. The mean patient age was 43 years (range: 30 to
54 years) and the mean follow-up was 34 months (range: 24 to 44 months). All patients
reported significant pain relief and improvement in sensation. Two-point discrimination
and EMG findings also improved. This is the first study reporting long-term results
of the vein-wrapping technique for the treatment of recalcitrant cubital tunnel syndrome.
