Cubital tunnel decompression
What is cubital tunnel decompression surgery?
Cubital tunnel decompression is a surgical procedure used to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve in the elbow.
This procedure is used to treat the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, which can include pain, numbness, or tingling in the hand and fingers.
What happens during cubital tunnel decompression surgery?
During the procedure, an incision is made in the elbow and the ligament is released to create more space for the ulnar nerve.
The nerve is then moved away from the area of pressure.
After the procedure, the patient will usually need to wear a splint for up to two weeks and physical therapy may be recommended.
The wound should be kept clean and dry for two weeks and protected with a soft bandage.
Early use of the fingers and elbow are encouraged but heavy manual labour should be avoided until the wound has fully healed and hand strength has returned.
Once the wound has healed massage the scar with E45/Nivea cream or similar.
The result is often a decrease in symptoms and improved function of the hand and fingers.