Doppler sonography for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the value of Doppler sonography for evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE).

METHODS

A total of 102 patients with a clinical suspicion of UNE and 50 healthy controls were examined by Doppler and gray-scale sonography.

RESULTS

Intraneural vascularization was found in 31 (46.3%) of 67 patients with confirmed UNE and in 3 (6.0%) of 50 healthy controls. Combining gray-scale sonography measurement of nerve size and the presence of intraneural vascularization increased sensitivity by 3%, but decreased the specificity. Patients with intraneural vascularization had more severe disease than those without intraneural vascularization (P < 0.05). The variables obtained by Doppler sonography were associated with the severity of UNE (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler sonography is not helpful for diagnosing UNE but can be used to assess the severity of UNE. Muscle Nerve 54: 258-263, 2016.