Conditions & Diagnoses: A-Z

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Ulnar Nerve Lesion

Definition:
A wound or injury of the ulnar nerve. A pathological change in the tissues. One of the individual points or patches of a multifocal disease.
Symptoms:
  • Abnormal sensations in the little finger and part of the ring finger, usually on the palm side
  • Loss of coordination of the fingers
  • Numbness, decreased sensation
  • Pain
  • Tingling, burning sensation
  • Weakness and clumsiness of the hand
  • Pain or numbness may awaken you from sleep
  • "Claw-like" deformity (in severe cases)
  • Difficulty moving the fingers
  • Wasting of the hand muscles (in severe cases)
  • Weakness of hand flexing
Causes:
  • Problems originating at the neck (thoracic outlet syndrome, disease of the cervical spine, tight anterior scalene muscles)
  • Tight pectoralis minor muscles
  • Brachial plexus abnormalities
  • Elbow fractures, growth plate injuries
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome
  • Flexorpronator aponeurosis
  • Tight flexor carpi ulnaris muscles
  • Wrist fractures
  • Guyon canal cyst
  • Artery aneurysms or thrombosis
  • Infections
  • Tumors
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Rheumatism
Treatment:
  • ROM and stretching
  • Hand intrinsic muscle strengthening
  • Upper extremity strengthening
  • Posture program