Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve—the "funny bone" nerve—becomes compressed or irritated as it passes through the cubital tunnel at the inside of the elbow. It's the second most common nerve compression syndrome after carpal tunnel, causing numbness and weakness in the hand.¹

Symptoms²

Numbness and tingling in ring and pinky fingers
Symptoms often worse with elbow bent
Aching pain inside of elbow
Weakness in hand grip
Difficulty with fine motor tasks
Waking with numb hand
Clumsiness in affected hand

Causes and Risk Factors

Prolonged elbow bending (sleeping, phone use)
Leaning on elbows
Repetitive elbow flexion
Previous elbow injury or fracture
Arthritis
Bone spurs
Anatomy variations

Diagnosis³

Physical examination
Tinel's sign at elbow
Elbow flexion test
Nerve conduction studies
X-rays (to rule out bone issues)
MRI (sometimes)

Treatment

Conservative

Avoid prolonged elbow bending
Elbow pad or splint
Night splint to keep elbow straight
Activity modification
NSAIDs for inflammation

Surgery

Cubital tunnel release
Ulnar nerve transposition
Medial epicondylectomy
Usually when conservative fails

Self-Care Tips

Don't sleep with elbows bent
Wrap towel around elbow at night
Avoid leaning on elbows
Take breaks from activities
Use hands-free devices for phone

Prognosis

Many improve with conservative care
Surgery often successful if needed
Early treatment improves outcomes
Severe cases may have permanent weakness

References

Palmer BA, Hughes TB. Cubital tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 2010;35(1):153-163.
Robertson C, Saratsiotis J. A review of compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005;28(5):345.
Caliandro P, La Torre G, Padua R, et al. Treatment for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;11:CD006839.