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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Finger Fractures

Breaks of the finger bones and the long bones of the hand, from falls, punches, ball sports and crush injuries. Most heal with splinting; some need pins or plates to keep the fingers straight.

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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve behind the elbow, the funny bone, causing numbness in the ring and small fingers and, over time, hand weakness.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of the two tendons that run along the thumb side of the wrist, causing sharp pain with lifting, gripping and turning the wrist.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Dupuytren Contracture

A thickening of the tissue under the skin of the palm into nodules and cords that slowly pull the fingers toward the palm until the hand will not lie flat.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Ganglion Cysts

A benign fluid-filled lump that balloons from a joint or tendon sheath, most often on the back of the wrist, that can ache, change size or press on a nerve.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Wear of the cartilage in the small joints of the fingers and wrist, causing stiffness, swelling, bony knuckle enlargement and pain with gripping.

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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Distal Biceps Rupture

A tear of the biceps tendon from the bone at the elbow, with a pop, bruising, a bunched-up muscle and lost strength turning the palm up. Time-sensitive.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Scaphoid Fracture

A break in the small wrist bone below the thumb, often mistaken for a sprain, that heals poorly because of its blood supply and leads to arthritis if missed.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Wrist Instability

A torn ligament between the small bones of the wrist, most often the scapholunate ligament, that lets the bones shift out of alignment and wear the joint.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Tendon Injuries

Cuts, ruptures and overuse injuries of the tendons that bend and straighten the fingers and wrist, including mallet finger, jersey finger and tendinitis.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Ligament Sprains

Stretched or torn ligaments in the wrist, thumb and fingers, including skier thumb and jammed fingers. Most heal with splinting; complete tears may need repair.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Nerve Injuries of the Hand and Arm

Cuts, crush injuries and stretch injuries to the nerves of the hand and arm, causing numbness and weakness. Timing matters because nerves recover slowly and only when repaired early.

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What it is

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

The ulnar nerve runs in a shallow groove behind the inner elbow and stretches every time the elbow bends.

Pressure, traction or a nerve that snaps over the bone irritates it.It is the second most common nerve compression in the arm after carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treated by

Toby Johnson, MD, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. JohnsonHand and Upper Extremity

M. Shane Frazier, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. FrazierHand and Upper Extremity

Travis Peterson, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. PetersonHand and Upper Extremity

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or call801-640-0000

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms

Numbness and tingling in the ring and small fingers, especially with the elbow bent for long periods: on the phone, sleeping, driving.Aching on the inside of the elbow. Over time, clumsiness, weak grip, and wasting of the hand muscles.

Striking the funny bone and feeling it in the fingers is the everyday version.

Common signs

Numb ring and small fingers

Worse with the elbow bent

Aching inside of the elbow

Clumsy hand, weak grip

See us sooner if

Muscle wasting in the hand

Constant numbness

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Causes

Prolonged elbow flexion, leaning on the elbow, repetitive bending, prior elbow fracture or arthritis, and a nerve that subluxes out of its groove. Some people simply have a shallow groove.Diabetes and thyroid disease increase susceptibility.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

How We Diagnose It

Exam tests sensation, hand strength and the nerve for tenderness and instability at the elbow.Nerve conduction studies localize the compression to the elbow and grade severity. X-rays assess elbow arthritis.Neck problems and compression at the wrist are considered.Nerve testing is arranged locally; both release techniques are done at a Utah Valley surgery center. Dr. Johnson, Dr. Frazier and Dr. Peterson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Orem Community Hospital.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Treatment Options

Keeping the elbow straighter at night with a soft splint or towel, padding the elbow, and avoiding leaning on it resolve mild cases.Persistent numbness, weakness or nerve test changes are treated with cubital tunnel release, moving the nerve to the front of the elbow when it is unstable.

Your options

Non-surgical

Night elbow splint

Elbow padding

Avoid leaning

Surgical

Cubital tunnel release

Nerve transposition

Cubital Tunnel Release

Carpal Tunnel Release

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Procedures That Address It

Cubital Tunnel Release

Carpal Tunnel Release

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Johnson, MD

Weill Cornell graduate, hand fellowship at Allegheny General. Twenty-one years in practice and seventeen as a collegiate team physician.

Dr. Frazier, DO

Fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Seventeen years in practice. Fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Peterson, DO

Hand surgery fellowship at UMass Chan. Office-based, wide-awake carpal tunnel release. Fifteen years in practice. Speaks German.

Request an appointment

or call801-640-0000

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Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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