The Relationship between Entrapment Level of the Nerve and Upper Extremity Function and Sleep Quality in Ulnar Neuropathy Patients

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies on sleep and upper extremity dysfunction in ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy, despite previous demonstrations of deterioration in sleep quality and a decrease in functional activity level in carpal tunnel syndrome. This study aims, for the first time in the scientific literature, to compare sleep and dysfunction between clinical conditions that occur at the two levels where the ulnar nerve is most commonly entrapped (elbow/cubital tunnel and wrist/Guyon’s canal).
METHODS: 20 (twenty) patients diagnosed with 'Ulnar entrapment neuropathy' by clinical evaluation and EMG (Electromyelography) were included in the study. The values of motor and sensory conductions were recorded according to the entrapment levels in EMG. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) index was used to evaluate upper extremity function and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to determine sleep disorders.
RESULTS: The average DASH score of patients with wrist entrapment (Guyon's canal) was found to be worse than the DASH score average of patients with cubital tunnel entrapment. The mean PSQI score of patients with entrapment in the wrist (Guyon's canal) was found to be higher than the mean PSQI score of patients with cubital tunnel entrapment. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.210 and p = 0.787, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Symptom severity in ulnar entrapment neuropathy syndrome negatively affects functional status and sleep quality. In the treatment of ulnar entrapment neuropathy, treatments aimed at restoring not only entrapment symptoms but also upper extremity function and sleep quality should be considered.