Treatment

The treatment of ulnar nerve palsy depends on the site of the lesion:

• at the elbow:
  • avoidance of full elbow flexion and pressure on the elbow may be sufficient in mild cases, otherwise
  • decompression of the nerve in situ is preferred so as to minimise the risk of devascularising the nerve
  • it may be necessary to transfer the nerve to the front of the medial epicondyle
  • recovery may be slow and incomplete; often the symptoms are temporarily exacerbated
  • the aim is to prevent further deterioration rather than to restore function and this must be explained clearly to the patient
    
    
• in the cubital tunnel:
  • avoidance of aggravating factors may be sufficient in mild cases
  • decompression may be necessary in more severe cases
    
    
• at the wrist and in the hand - exploration may be required