Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the Agee endoscopic
system (3M, Orthopedic Products, St. Paul, MN) for ulnar nerve decompression at the
elbow. Type of Study: A cadaveric study. Methods: The ulnar nerve was identified through a 3-cm longitudinal incision between the medial
epicondyle and olecranon. A release of the ulnar nerve was performed with the Agee
device under endoscopic magnification. A complete open assessment of the ulnar nerve,
its branching, and structures divided was performed under loupe magnification. Results: In all 6 cadaveric specimens, the arcade of Struthers, the cubital tunnel retinaculum,
and the flexor carpi ulnaris aponeurosis were completely divided. In all specimens,
the ulnar nerve and all motor and capsular branches were preserved. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that the Agee endoscopic ulnar nerve decompression at
the elbow is both safe and effective in a cadaveric model. Clinical Relevance: This cadaveric study shows that a surgical decompression of the ulnar nerve can be
safely and effectively performed with a single endoscopic portal using the Agee device.
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Footnotes
NOTE. To access the video illustrations accompanying this article, visit the June online issue of Arthroscopy at www.arthroscopyjournal.org
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Copyright
© 2005 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
