Osborne (arcuate) ligament = retinaculum of cubital tunnel
Definitions
Ulnar neuropathy due to entrapment &/or trauma to nerve at level of elbow, within or around cubital tunnel
Cubital tunnel: anatomic space in posteromedial elbow through which ulnar nerve (UN) passes
Osborne ligament: fibrous sheath forming roof of cubital tunnel
a.k.a. cubital tunnel retinaculum
a.k.a. humeroulnar arcade
Described by Osborne as fibrous band between 2 heads of flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU)
Arcade of Struthers: thin fibrous band extending from medial head of triceps to medial intermuscular septum ~ 6-10 cm above medial humeral epicondyle
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Kalia V et al: Imaging of peripheral nerves of the upper extremity. Radiol Clin North Am. 57(5):1063-71, 2019
Rhodes NG et al: MR imaging of the postsurgical cubital tunnel: an imaging review of the cubital tunnel, cubital tunnel syndrome, and associated surgical techniques. Skeletal Radiol. 48(10):1541-4, 2019
Andrews K et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome: anatomy, clinical presentation, and management. J Orthop. 15(3):832-6, 2018
Staples JR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome: current concepts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 25(10):e215-24, 2017
De Maeseneer M et al: Ultrasound of the elbow with emphasis on detailed assessment of ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Eur J Radiol. 84(4):671-81, 2015
Howe BM et al: MR Imaging of the nerves of the upper extremity: elbow to wrist. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 23(3):469-78, 2015
Harris JD et al: Nerve injuries about the elbow in the athlete. Sports Med Arthrosc. 22(3):e7-15, 2014
Zbojniewicz AM: US for diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions in the young athlete: emphasis on dynamic assessment. Radiographics. 34(5):1145-62, 2014
Cummins CA et al: Peripheral nerve injuries in baseball players. Neurol Clin. 26(1):195-215; x, 2008
Gellman H: Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow: cubital tunnel syndrome. Instr Course Lect. 57:187-97, 2008
Macadam SA et al: Simple decompression versus anterior subcutaneous and submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome: a meta-analysis. J Hand Surg Am. 33(8):1314, 2008
Elhassan B et al: Entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 15(11):672-81, 2007
Kim S et al: Role of magnetic resonance imaging in entrapment and compressive neuropathy--what, where, and how to see the peripheral nerves on the musculoskeletal magnetic resonance image: part 2. Upper extremity. Eur Radiol. 17(2):509-22, 2007
Szabo RM et al: Natural history and conservative management of cubital tunnel syndrome. Hand Clin. 23(3):311-8, v-vi, 2007
Andreisek G et al: Peripheral neuropathies of the median, radial, and ulnar nerves: MR imaging features. Radiographics. 26(5):1267-87, 2006
Bordalo-Rodrigues M et al: MR imaging of entrapment neuropathies at the elbow. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 12(2):247-63, vi, 2004
Huang JH et al: Ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy at the elbow: simple decompression. Neurosurgery. 55(5):1150-3, 2004
Martinoli C et al: Sonography of entrapment neuropathies in the upper limb (wrist excluded). J Clin Ultrasound. 32(9):438-50, 2004
Bartels RH: History of the surgical treatment of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow. Neurosurgery. 49(2):391-9; discussion 399-400, 2001
Grana W: Medial epicondylitis and cubital tunnel syndrome in the throwing athlete. Clin Sports Med. 20(3):541-8, 2001
Folberg CR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Part I: presentation and diagnosis. Orthop Rev. 23(2):136-44, 1994
Folberg CR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Part II: treatment. Orthop Rev. 23(3):233-41, 1994
McPherson SA et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Orthop Clin North Am. 23(1):111-23, 1992
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KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Osborne (arcuate) ligament = retinaculum of cubital tunnel
Definitions
Ulnar neuropathy due to entrapment &/or trauma to nerve at level of elbow, within or around cubital tunnel
Cubital tunnel: anatomic space in posteromedial elbow through which ulnar nerve (UN) passes
Osborne ligament: fibrous sheath forming roof of cubital tunnel
a.k.a. cubital tunnel retinaculum
a.k.a. humeroulnar arcade
Described by Osborne as fibrous band between 2 heads of flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU)
Arcade of Struthers: thin fibrous band extending from medial head of triceps to medial intermuscular septum ~ 6-10 cm above medial humeral epicondyle
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Kalia V et al: Imaging of peripheral nerves of the upper extremity. Radiol Clin North Am. 57(5):1063-71, 2019
Rhodes NG et al: MR imaging of the postsurgical cubital tunnel: an imaging review of the cubital tunnel, cubital tunnel syndrome, and associated surgical techniques. Skeletal Radiol. 48(10):1541-4, 2019
Andrews K et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome: anatomy, clinical presentation, and management. J Orthop. 15(3):832-6, 2018
Staples JR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome: current concepts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 25(10):e215-24, 2017
De Maeseneer M et al: Ultrasound of the elbow with emphasis on detailed assessment of ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Eur J Radiol. 84(4):671-81, 2015
Howe BM et al: MR Imaging of the nerves of the upper extremity: elbow to wrist. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 23(3):469-78, 2015
Harris JD et al: Nerve injuries about the elbow in the athlete. Sports Med Arthrosc. 22(3):e7-15, 2014
Zbojniewicz AM: US for diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions in the young athlete: emphasis on dynamic assessment. Radiographics. 34(5):1145-62, 2014
Cummins CA et al: Peripheral nerve injuries in baseball players. Neurol Clin. 26(1):195-215; x, 2008
Gellman H: Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow: cubital tunnel syndrome. Instr Course Lect. 57:187-97, 2008
Macadam SA et al: Simple decompression versus anterior subcutaneous and submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome: a meta-analysis. J Hand Surg Am. 33(8):1314, 2008
Elhassan B et al: Entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 15(11):672-81, 2007
Kim S et al: Role of magnetic resonance imaging in entrapment and compressive neuropathy--what, where, and how to see the peripheral nerves on the musculoskeletal magnetic resonance image: part 2. Upper extremity. Eur Radiol. 17(2):509-22, 2007
Szabo RM et al: Natural history and conservative management of cubital tunnel syndrome. Hand Clin. 23(3):311-8, v-vi, 2007
Andreisek G et al: Peripheral neuropathies of the median, radial, and ulnar nerves: MR imaging features. Radiographics. 26(5):1267-87, 2006
Bordalo-Rodrigues M et al: MR imaging of entrapment neuropathies at the elbow. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 12(2):247-63, vi, 2004
Huang JH et al: Ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy at the elbow: simple decompression. Neurosurgery. 55(5):1150-3, 2004
Martinoli C et al: Sonography of entrapment neuropathies in the upper limb (wrist excluded). J Clin Ultrasound. 32(9):438-50, 2004
Bartels RH: History of the surgical treatment of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow. Neurosurgery. 49(2):391-9; discussion 399-400, 2001
Grana W: Medial epicondylitis and cubital tunnel syndrome in the throwing athlete. Clin Sports Med. 20(3):541-8, 2001
Folberg CR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Part I: presentation and diagnosis. Orthop Rev. 23(2):136-44, 1994
Folberg CR et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Part II: treatment. Orthop Rev. 23(3):233-41, 1994
McPherson SA et al: Cubital tunnel syndrome. Orthop Clin North Am. 23(1):111-23, 1992
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