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Review
. 2022 May;164(5):1337-1345.
doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-05102-9. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

Research reporting in cubital tunnel syndrome studies: an analysis of the literature

Nicholas F Hug  1 , Brandon W Smith  2 , Sarada Sakamuri  1   3 , Michael Jensen  1 , David A Purger  1 , Robert J Spinner  4 , Thomas J Wilson  5
Affiliations
Review

Research reporting in cubital tunnel syndrome studies: an analysis of the literature

Nicholas F Hug et al. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2022 May.

Abstract

Purpose: There is a strong need for a set of consensus outcomes to be utilized for future studies on cubital tunnel syndrome. The goal was to assess the outcome measures utilized in the cubital tunnel syndrome literature as a way of measuring popularity/acceptability and then to perform a literature review for the most commonly used outcomes.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the pubmed.gov database and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). For each article, the following data were abstracted: study type, motor outcome(s), sensory outcome(s), composite outcome(s), patient-reported outcome (PRO) metric(s), pain outcome(s), psychological outcome(s), electrodiagnostic outcome(s), and any other outcomes that were used.

Results: A composite outcome was reported in 52/85 (61%) studies, with the modified Bishop score (27/85; 32%) most common. A motor outcome was reported in 44/85 (52%) studies, with dynamometry (38/85; 45%) most common. The majority of studies (55%) did not report a sensory outcome. The majority of studies (52%) did not report a PRO. A specific pain outcome was reported in the minority (23/85; 27%), with the visual analogue scale (VAS) (22/85; 26%) most common. Pre- and postoperative electrodiagnostic results were presented in 22/85 studies (26%).

Discussion: Understanding current clinical practice and historical outcomes reporting provides a foundation for discussion regarding the development of a core outcome set for cubital tunnel syndrome. We hope that the data provided in the current study will stoke a discussion that will culminate in a consensus statement for research reporting in cubital tunnel syndrome studies.

Keywords: Clinical research; Core outcome measures; Cubital tunnel syndrome; Ulnar nerve.

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