PRACTICE PARAMETER FOR ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC STUDIES IN ULNAR NEUROPATHY AT THE ELBOW SUMMARY STATEMENT Introduction

The sensitivity and specificity of nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography for the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow were evaluated by a critical review of the literature. With a search of the medical literature in English through January 1996, 101 articles were identified and reviewed on the basis of six criteria of scientific methodology. The findings of 6 articles that met all 6 criteria and the results of 22 additional studies that met 4 or 5 criteria are presented. We concluded that ulnar sensory and motor nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography performed by physicians with training in electrodiagnostic medicine are valid and reproducible clinical laboratory studies that confirm a clinical diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Clinical practice recommendations are made based on the literature review of several different ulnar nerve conduction study techniques.