The Effect of Vascular Pedicle Preservation on Blood Flow and Clinical Outcome Following Ulnar Nerve Transposition

36 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome caused by elbow osteoarthritis were randomized to undergo subcutaneous anterior ulnar nerve transposition with or without preservation of vascular pedicles, to compare the changes in blood flow and clinical results secondary to both treatment options. Results indicated that preserving the vascular pedicles in nerve transposition procedures prevents the immediate compromise of blood flow to the nerve, but it does not correlate to nerve function recovery.