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Observational Study
. 2017 Mar;96(10):e6204.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006204.

Estimation of ultrasound reference values for the ulnar nerve fascicular number and cross-sectional area in young males: A cross-sectional study

Mohamed Abdelmohsen Bedewi  1 , Ahmed M M Yousef, Amr Adel Abd-Elghany, Mohamed Sherif El-Sharkawy, Ezzat M Awad
Affiliations
Observational Study

Estimation of ultrasound reference values for the ulnar nerve fascicular number and cross-sectional area in young males: A cross-sectional study

Mohamed Abdelmohsen Bedewi et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to estimate the reference values for the number of fascicles and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve at a single predetermined site by ultrasound in healthy young adult males.The demographic and physical characteristics of 50 adult male volunteers were evaluated and recorded. The subjects were positioned supine with the elbow flexed at 90° and the palm of the hand placed on a hard surface. The ulnar nerve was scanned bilaterally 1 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle in projection of the cubital tunnel. The number of fascicles and mean CSA of the ulnar nerve were identified. In addition, the side-to-side differences of the estimated reference values and their correlations with the age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated.The mean fascicular number was 5.66 ± 1.48, the mean ultrasound-estimated CSA of the ulnar nerve was 6.54 ± 1.67 mm and both sides were comparable in the mean CSA and fascicular number (6.43 ± 1.80 mm and 5.88 vs 6.64 ± 1.55 mm and 5.44, for right and left side, respectively). No significant correlations were observed between CSA and fascicles number and age, weight, height, or BMI of study subjects.The reference values for the number of fascicles number and the CSA of the ulnar nerve at a single predetermined site were identified. These values could be used for the sonographic diagnosis and follow-up of the ulnar nerve lesions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Short axis scan of the ulnar nerve 1 cm before the level of the medial epicondyle cross-sectional area (CSA) with clear fascicular pattern.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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