Do Socioeconomic Factors Affect Symptom Duration and Disease Severity at Presentation for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

The Effect of Area-Level Deprivation on the Severity of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on Presentation to a Hand Surgeon

PURPOSE

Cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is the second most common upper-extremity neuropathy and can cause debilitating symptoms. Patients presenting to care with severe CuTS can be left with permanent weakness and numbness despite treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between area-level deprivation and the severity of CuTS on presentation to a hand surgeon.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 369 patients who were diagnosed with CuTS at a new patient visit between January 2017 and December 2021. We queried the electronic health record to assess the severity of CuTS using the McGowan grade. We used patient addresses to determine the national percentile of area-level deprivation for each patient. Bivariate analyses were used to determine if sociodemographic factors were associated with CuTS severity on presentation or rates of surgical intervention.

RESULTS

In bivariate analysis, patients with higher levels of area-level deprivation had more severe CuTS. Those who were older, were men, and had public insurance were also found to have more severe CuTS. Secondary analysis revealed that patients with higher levels of deprivation were more likely to receive nerve conduction testing. No sociodemographic factors were associated with whether patients received surgical intervention or in time from presentation to surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients from marginalized backgrounds present to hand surgeons with more severe CuTS disease.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Delayed presentation can lead to worse outcomes in CuTS. Understanding barriers to earlier presentation in more deprived locations and certain patient populations can help develop solutions to address these disparities.

Impact of Social Deprivation on Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Timeline

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of area deprivation index (ADI) on treatment timelines of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). We hypothesize that increased social deprivation will correlate with increased time between care milestones from presentation to surgery.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with CuTS who underwent surgical intervention at a single academic institution. Variables including age, sex, body mass index, ADI, electrodiagnostic (EDX) severity classification, and time elapsed between treatment milestones were obtained. Treatment milestones included time elapsed between initial presentation to hand surgery and EDX studies, and surgery. Analysis included univariate χ2 tests and analysis of variance, as well as multivariate linear and logistic regressions.

Results

Six hundred and fifty-three patients were divided by ADI national percentiles from the least to most deprived tertiles. Univariate analysis found no differences in care timelines across ADI tertiles. Multivariate analysis revealed a nonsignificant trend toward higher ADI predicting longer time from presentation to surgery. Moderate EDX rating correlated with increased time from presentation to surgery. Mild EDX ratings correlate with increased time from EDX studies to surgery. Age was a significant predictor of decreased time between initial presentation and surgery and between EDX and surgery. Completion of EDX studies prior to presentation significantly decreased time to surgery.

Conclusions

Social deprivation does not significantly correlate with delays in the treatment timeline for CuTS. Increased age was significantly correlated with shorter treatment timelines, which may reflect differences in physicians' approaches to patients of different ages. Electrodiagnostic testing obtained prior to initial presentation expedited care following presentation to hand clinic. However, this could reflect either an overall delay in care (if EDX were obtained because of a delay from referral to presentation) or truly expedited care.

Type of study/level of evidence

Prognostic II.

The Unpredictable Ulnar Nerve-Ulnar Nerve Entrapment from Anatomical, Pathophysiological, and Biopsychosocial Aspects

Peripheral nerves consist of delicate structures, including a rich microvascular system, that protect and nourish axons and associated Schwann cells. Nerves are sensitive to internal and external trauma, such as compression and stretching. Ulnar nerve entrapment, the second most prevalent nerve entrapment disorder after carpal tunnel syndrome, appears frequently at the elbow. Although often idiopathic, known risk factors, including obesity, smoking, diabetes, and vibration exposure, occur. It exists in all adult ages (mean age 40-50 years), but seldom affects individuals in their adolescence or younger. The patient population is heterogeneous with great co-morbidity, including other nerve entrapment disorders. Typical early symptoms are paresthesia and numbness in the ulnar fingers, followed by decreased sensory function and muscle weakness. Pre- and postoperative neuropathic pain is relatively common, independent of other symptom severity, with a risk for serious consequences. A multimodal treatment strategy is necessary. Mild to moderate symptoms are usually treated conservatively, while surgery is an option when conservative treatment fails or in severe cases. The decision to perform surgery might be difficult, and the outcome is unpredictable with the risk of complications. There is no consensus on the choice of surgical method, but simple decompression is relatively effective with a lower complication rate than transposition.