- Most common nerve compression at elbow
Causes
- Idiopathic
- Activities requiring repetitive elbow movements
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fractures / Dislocations
- Cubitus valgus
- Instability of ulnar nerve
- Anconeus epitrochlearus muscle
Symptoms
- Pain to medial forearm
- Paraesthesias to ulnar nerve distribution of hand
Signs
- Benediction Hand
- Little finger & ring finger are clawed
- Flexed at the IPJ & hyperextended at MTPJ
- Little finger & ring finger are clawed
- Muscle Wasting
- Compression at wrist
- Intrinsic muscles of hand
- Weakness finger abduction adduction
- Compression below elbow
- Flexor carpi ulnaris
- Weakness of wrist flexion in ulnar deviation
- Flexor carpi ulnaris
- Compression at elbow
- Flexor digitorum profundus to 4- 5th digits
- Compression at wrist
Tests
- 1. Tinel’s Sign
- 2. Elbow Flexion test
- Passively flex elbow to maximum & hold for 1 minute
- Patient develops paraesthesia in small & ring finger
- 3. Ulnar nerve compression test
- Same as elbow flexion test but also press on the nerve
Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.