Introduction

The aim of the study was to check the risk factors for subjects with motor conduction velocity (MCV) reduction of the ulnar nerve across the elbow without symptoms/signs of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) using a database of a previous multicenter case–control study on UNE patients.

Methods

From the previous database, we extracted all asymptomatic UNE (A-UNE) and matched for age and sex with a control and UNE groups with a ratio of 1:2. Anthropometric factors were measured and all participants filled in a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle factors, and medical history. One-sample proportion test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

We enrolled 64 A-UNE, 124 UNE, and 124 controls (mean age 53 years). There were more males with A-UNE than females (74.2%). The predominantly or exclusively concerned side of A-UNE was the right. Logistic regression showed that A-UNE was associated with diabetes (OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.21–7.39) and width of cubital groove (CGW) (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81–0.97).

Discussion

Risk factors for A-UNE are different from UNE. The prevalence of right side in A-UNE was not due to particular elbow postures. Diabetes is a risk factor, probably because MCV reduction of the ulnar nerve across the elbow was an early manifestation of asymptomatic polyneuropathy in diabetes. A-UNE is associated with narrow CGW as already demonstrated in UNE, even if the OR was higher in UNE than in A-UNE. Only future longitudinal studies will be able to check whether the A-UNE subjects develop symptoms and signs of true mononeuropathy with time.

中文翻译：

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无症状跨肘尺神经运动传导速度降低的危险因素

介绍

该研究的目的是使用以前的多中心病例数据库检查肘部尺神经运动传导速度 (MCV) 降低而没有肘部尺神经病变 (UNE) 症状/体征的受试者的危险因素—— UNE患者的对照研究。

方法

从之前的数据库中，我们提取了所有无症状的 UNE (A-UNE)，并以 1:2 的比例与对照组和 UNE 组进行年龄和性别匹配。测量了人体测量因素，所有参与者都填写了一份关于人口统计学、生活方式因素和病史的问卷。进行了单样本比例检验和单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析。

结果

我们招募了 64 名 A-UNE、124 名 UNE 和 124 名对照（平均年龄 53 岁）。患有 A-UNE 的男性多于女性（74.2%）。A-UNE 主要或完全相关的一方是右翼。Logistic 回归显示 A-UNE 与糖尿病（OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.21-7.39）和肘沟宽度（CGW）（OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81-0.97）相关。

讨论

A-UNE 的风险因素与 UNE 不同。A-UNE 中右侧的患病率不是由于特定的肘部姿势。糖尿病是一个危险因素，可能是因为肘部尺神经的 MCV 减少是糖尿病无症状性多发性神经病的早期表现。A-UNE 与 UNE 中已经证明的窄 CGW 相关，即使 UNE 中的 OR 高于 A-UNE。只有未来的纵向研究才能检查 A-UNE 受试者是否会随着时间的推移出现真正的单神经病的症状和体征。