Median and Ulnar Nerve Compressions: Simplifying Diagnostics and Surgery at the Elbow and Hand | Journal CME Article-Journal CME Article: Median and Ulnar Nerve Compressions: Simplifying Diagnostics and Surgery at the Elbow and Hand Video 1

Journal CME Article: Median and Ulnar Nerve Compressions: Simplifying Diagnostics and Surgery at the Elbow and Hand Video 1

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Video Transcription

Okay we're going to work on how to do the 10 test. So you first want to make sure the patient understands the examination. So this is the way I describe it to them. So I'm going to  test your sensation. The scale is from 0 to 10. 10 is normal. 0 is so numb that you can't feel  me touching you. So I want you to put your palms up and I want you to tell me what number is this  one. 10. So you try and pick something that's normal and then you have them say what number  so you make sure that they understand. And then for ulnar neuropathy in particular what you have  them do is you say if this is the affected hands what number is this small finger and you can give  them the other finger as a comparator. 7. So that's volar. And you also want to test dorsal.  What number is this one? 7. All right so now you know that both the volar and the dorsal  are impacted which puts your nerve injury above the wrist because the dorsal ulnar sensory. And  the next thing you're going to do is check mid forearm. What's this side? 10. And so that puts  you at likely cubital tunnel because the medial forearm and upper arm are going to be the MABC and the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm.

Video Summary

The "10 test" assesses sensation by using a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is normal sensation and 0 indicates complete numbness. The patient is first asked to determine their baseline sensation level. For ulnar neuropathy, the examiner tests both the volar and dorsal sides of the affected small finger, using other fingers as comparisons. If both sides are impaired, the nerve injury may be above the wrist. Testing is then done on the mid forearm to assess potential cubital tunnel syndrome, as a normal sensation there suggests the involvement of specific nerves.

Keywords

sensation assessment

ulnar neuropathy

nerve injury

cubital tunnel syndrome

baseline sensation