Vein wrapping at cubital tunnel for ulnar nerve problems

Revision Decompression and Collagen Nerve Wrap for Recurrent and Persistent Compression Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity

“…Standard repeat open decompression with external neurolysis was reported on in 9 series, 2,4,5,7Y12 of which 4 authors also used internal neurolysis 2,7,11,12 (see Table 5). Again, the vein wrapping technique was described by 2 authors in 3 separate reports 28,43,44 with all patients resolved or improved (see Table 8). The weighted success rate of papers 29 and another case report of a polyester urethane patch was successful.…”

“…22,30 Others feel that neurolysis or epineurectomy is essential to remove the perineural fibrosis that is invariably present in these cases. 32Y39 Similarly, many other techniques for recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome have been described such as ulnar nerve repositioning, 40,41 subcutaneous transposition, 37,41,42 saphenous vein wrap, 28,43,44 and even silastic sheeting. 9 Compression of the ulnar nerve in the elbow, or cubital tunnel syndrome, has more varied primary surgical treatments described with generally lower success rates than primary carpal tunnel syndrome.…”

Vein Wrapping for Chronic Nerve Constriction Injury in a Rat Model

“…Most authors have agreed that soft-tissue coverage is necessary to prevent recurrent scar 3,4 , and vein wrapping is one option. There have been several reports of positive clinical results after vein wrapping for recurrent compressive neuropathy, such as carpal tunnel syndrome [5][6][7][8][9][10] , cubital tunnel syndrome [11][12][13] , and tarsal tunnel syndrome [14][15][16] . The efficacy of the procedure has been attributed to a mechanism whereby peripheral nerves are insulated from surrounding scar tissue, possibly as a result of properties of endothelial cells lining the inner surface of the vein 5,[9][10][11]13 .…”

Further Evidence for Treatment of Recalcitrant Neuropathy of the Upper Limb With Autologous Vein Wrapping

“…In an effort to address these concerns, the use of the vein stripper has most recently been proposed. 35 We are skeptical of this option because of the intramural damage (hematoma) to the vein graft that this harvesting technique may cause, based on experience from varicose vein stripping. The vascular adhesions of the vein wrap to the surrounding tissues (''graft take'') 7,36 and the biological interactions with the nerve (papillary transformation of the endothelium 36 ) presumably rely on an undamaged graft.…”