# Research methodology to assess surgery for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $90,132

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is the second most common compression neuropathy
after carpal tunnel syndrome. It is three times more frequent in men than women with 73,000
new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. UNE disproportionately affects working
individuals, particularly in tasks requiring prolonged or frequent flexion of the elbow. Numbness
and tingling of the ring and little fingers, pain at the elbow, and loss of sensation over the arm,
hand and ring fingers are the characteristic symptoms of UNE. Severe cases can also have
motor deficit of the hand muscles. Diagnosis is based on signs, symptoms and electrodiagnostic
studies.
The most common surgical treatments for UNE are in-situ (simple) decompression of the ulnar
nerve at the elbow or subcutaneous anterior nerve transposition. Choice of surgical technique
differs among surgeons and there is no clear evidence regarding which procedure is more
effective and for which type of patient.
The parent grant for this supplement, the Surgery of the Ulnar Nerve (SUN) study
(1U01AR073485) is a randomized double-blind superiority clinical trial to compare the
effectiveness of in-situ decompression and subcutaneous anterior transposition by assessing
patient-reported and physiologic outcomes. This supplement proposes to provide an exceptional
medical student (with master’s training) with hands-on-training and skills necessary for her to
pursue an academic career. Specifically, the learning and guidance she will gain from this
experience will enable her to assist in investigating associations between electrodiagnostic
parameters, racial/ethnic variations, and treatment outcomes related to ulnar neuropathy.
Additionally, this supplement will contribute to literature on the above-mentioned topics and
advance the understanding of these factors in UNE treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10579693
- **Project number:** 3U01AR073485-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** KEVIN C CHUNG
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $90,132
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-25 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10579693

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10579693, Research methodology to assess surgery for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (3U01AR073485-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10579693. Licensed CC0.

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