2015 AAHS Annual Meeting: In-situ Decompression of Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: A Controlled Randomized Study Comparing Decompression using Two Small Transverse Incisions with Standard Open Decompression

60 patients undergoing in-situ ulnar nerve decompression for nerve entrapment were randomized to receive decompression through either the standard open method or through two transverse incisions made along the nerve, below the medial epicondyle. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the variation in incision location and style would impact patient outcomes. Pain, grip and pinch strength and local scar tenderness, were among the outcomes being assessed over a mean period of 6.3 months postoperatively. The results of this study indicate that while functional outcomes did not differ between groups, the transverse incision group experienced lower pain, scar disfiguration and less scar tenderness.