History of the surgical treatment of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow

OBJECTIVE: Surgery to achieve ulnar nerve decompression at the elbow has be en performed for nearly 2 centuries. Several methods have been developed, s ome of which have been abandoned. Historical insight improves understanding of current techniques and provides the basis for the development of new me thods. Which treatment method is best is the topic of ongoing debate. METHODS: The literature was reviewed using the MEDLINE database. Standard t extbooks and retrieved articles were checked for missing references. For ol der articles, the bibliographies of books and theses were consulted. When I was unsuccessful in finding information in standard biographies of authors of milestone publications, I contacted the hospitals or institutions in wh ich these individuals worked or are currently working. RESULTS: A systematic chronological overview of the surgical treatment of u lnar nerve compression at the elbow is presented, with special attention to people who described a treatment method for-the first time. CONCLUSION: This article is the first in the literature to provide informat ion about and photographs of nearly all of the people who were important in the development of the surgical treatment of compression of the ulnar nerv e at the elbow.