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Correlation between the lengths of the upper limb and cubital tunnel: potential use in patients with proximal ulnar nerve entrapment

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Abstract

Introduction

We hypothesized that a correlation may exist between the length of the upper limb and the length of the cubital tunnel, which transmits the ulnar nerve from the arm to the forearm. If true, this association might aid in predicting individuals at greater risk of developing ulnar nerve compression at this site.

Materials and methods

A total of 46 cadaveric upper limbs were dissected. The lengths of the upper limb and cubital tunnel were measured and analysis made of any correlation between these two distances.

Results

The average length of the cubital tunnel was found to be 2.7 cm (range 1.2–4.7 cm, SD 0.82), and the average length of the upper limb was 62.5 cm (range 51–72 cm, SD 4.33). No significant difference was found with either length of the tunnel between left and right sides or among genders. Neither the ratio of upper limb length to length of the cubital tunnel between genders nor the ratio between left and right sides was found to have a positive correlation.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the cubital tunnel length maintains similar proportion to upper limb length among genders and sides and that a correlation between these two distances does not exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital, 1600 7th Avenue South ACC 400, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George, Grenada

    Marios Loukas

  3. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Nihal Apaydin

  4. University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Tiffany D. Cossey

  5. Department of Anatomy, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Yalçin

  6. Clarian Neuroscience Institute, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Mohammadali M. Shoja & Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol

  7. Department of Neurosurgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Mohammadali M. Shoja & Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol

Authors
  1. R. Shane Tubbs
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  2. Marios Loukas
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  3. Nihal Apaydin
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  4. Tiffany D. Cossey
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  5. Bulent Yalçin
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  6. Mohammadali M. Shoja
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  7. Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Shane Tubbs.

Additional information

This article is part of a special issue on “Nerves of the upper limb”.

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Shane Tubbs, R., Loukas, M., Apaydin, N. et al. Correlation between the lengths of the upper limb and cubital tunnel: potential use in patients with proximal ulnar nerve entrapment. Surg Radiol Anat 32, 239–242 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0599-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0599-3

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