Symptomatic epineural ganglion cyst of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel: a case report and brief review of the literature

An unusual case of pain and weakness in the hand and forearm due to a gangl ion cyst of the ulnar nerve at the elbow is presented. The patient was mana ged initially as a case of cervical disc disease and cervical spondylosis a nd later as a case of carpal tunnel syndrome at an another institution. Cer vical radiography and cervical magnetic resonance imaging scans were inconc lusive. Neurosurgical referral revealed tenderness at the right cubital tun nel, weakness of the right hand and forearm muscles, and sensory deficit al ong the medial border of the forearm and the hand. The diagnosis of ulnar n erve compression at the elbow was made. Nerve conduction studies of the uln ar nerve at the elbow confirmed the diagnosis. A ganglion cyst of the ulnar nerve was excised microsurgically with a complete postoperative sensory mo tor recovery. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.