Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Caused by a Ganglion cyst Originating from the Ulnohumeral Joint, a Case Report

Kim, Jung-hoon; Cho, Woochul; Son, Byung-chul

The Nerve > Accepted Articles

Jung-hoon Kim¹, Woochul Cho¹, Byung-chul Son¹

Correspondence

Byung-chul Son ,Tel: 010-8938-7485, Fax: 02-594-4248, Email: sbc@catholic.ac.kr

Received: August 16, 2018; Accepted: August 20, 2018. Published online: August 20, 2018.

ABSTRACT

Ganglions are benign cysts bounded by dense connective tissue and filled with gelatinous fluid rich in hyaluronic acid and mucopolysaccharides. They occur most commonly in the knee and wrist. However, entrapment of the ulnar nerve by ganglion cysts has also been described to occur within the cubital tunnel. Despite of their incidence (3~8%) among patients with cubital tunnel syndrome, they have been rarely reported. A 56-year-old male, professional golf instructor presented with a sudden onset of right hand paresthesia of 3-month duration. Paresthesia with decreased sensation in the lateral two digits and ulnar palm in his right hand and clumsiness in his right fingers were observed. Physical examination showed no weakness or atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles in his right hand. For preoperative diagnosis of ganglion cyst causing cubital tunnel syndrome, characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were quite helpful. On exploration, the ulnar nerve was found to be compressed by densely adherent, multilobular ganglion cyst within the cubital tunnel. A rare occurrence of ganglion cyst originating from medial ulnohumeral joint, compressing the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel, is experienced. Here we report an intraoperative findings for the ganglion cyst of medial ulnohumeral joint compressing the ulnar nerve. Early diagnosis of a ganglion cyst compressing the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel is essential to achieve successful treatment for this rare lesion.

Key words: Cubital tunnel syndrome ; Cyst; Elbow joint; Ganglion cyst; Ulnar nerve; Ulnar neuropathy