Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
🚨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Compression at Elbow)
Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression of the ulnar nerve as it passes behind the inner elbow bone (medial epicondyle) in the cubital tunnel - it is the second most common nerve compression syndrome after carpal tunnel, causing numbness and tingling in the ring and small fingers, hand weakness, and clumsiness with fine motor tasks - symptoms typically worsen with prolonged elbow flexion (talking on phone, sleeping with bent elbow) and improve with conservative treatment (night splinting, avoiding pressure on elbow) in 50-60% of mild cases, while moderate-severe cases often require surgery which achieves 80-90% improvement if performed before permanent nerve damage occurs.
📖What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Compression at Elbow)?
Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression of the ulnar nerve as it passes behind the inner elbow bone (medial epicondyle) in the cubital tunnel - it is the second most common nerve compression syndrome after carpal tunnel, causing numbness and tingling in the ring and small fingers, hand weakness, and clumsiness with fine motor tasks - symptoms typically worsen with prolonged elbow flexion (talking on phone, sleeping with bent elbow) and improve with conservative treatment (night splinting, avoiding pressure on elbow) in 50-60% of mild cases, while moderate-severe cases often require surgery which achieves 80-90% improvement if performed before permanent nerve damage occurs.
🔬What Causes It?
- Chronic pressure on ulnar nerve from leaning on elbows (desk work, driving)
- Prolonged elbow flexion stretching nerve (sleeping with bent elbow, phone calls, reading in bed)
- Cubital tunnel narrowing from bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or previous elbow fractures
- Ulnar nerve subluxation (nerve slips over medial epicondyle with elbow flexion)
- Direct trauma to medial elbow or previous elbow surgery
⚠️Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Occupations requiring prolonged elbow flexion or leaning on elbows (office workers, drivers, machinists)
- Previous elbow fractures or injuries (post-traumatic cubital tunnel narrowing)
- Rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes (increased nerve compression susceptibility)
- Repetitive elbow flexion-extension (factory work, assembly line)
- Sleeping with elbows bent (nocturnal compression)
🛡️Prevention
- ✓Avoid prolonged elbow flexion (use speakerphone, adjust computer setup)
- ✓Don't lean on elbows (use padded armrests, change work positions frequently)
- ✓Sleep with elbow extended (use night splint if tendency to sleep with bent elbow)
- ✓Ergonomic workplace assessment (proper desk height, chair armrest adjustment)
- ✓Treat underlying conditions (diabetes control reduces nerve compression susceptibility)