Elbow Cubital Tunnel Release

Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when you have a pinched nerve at your elbow (ulnar nerve), causing numbness in your pinky and sometimes your ring finger. If conservative treatments like splinting and therapy don’t give you relief, cubital tunnel release surgery can restore feeling and function to your hand. The orthopedic surgeons at Anchor Spine & Joint in Tampa, Riverview, Odessa, Pinellas Park, and Lutz, Florida, perform this outpatient procedure to free your ulnar nerve from compression. Call your nearest office or schedule online if numbness and tingling in your fingers are affecting your daily activities.

What is cubital tunnel release? 

Cubital tunnel release frees your ulnar nerve from compression at your elbow. Your ulnar nerve runs through a tight space behind your elbow called the cubital tunnel, where it can get squeezed by surrounding tissues. 

This compression causes the numbness, tingling, and weakness you feel in your ring and pinky fingers. The procedure opens up this tunnel by cutting the tissue pinching your nerve.

Who benefits from cubital tunnel release? 

When nerve compression symptoms persist, cubital tunnel release can help, even after trying conservative treatments. You might be a candidate if you have:

• Numbness or tingling in your ring and pinky fingers 
• Hand weakness that makes gripping difficult
• Elbow pain that shoots into your fingers
• Symptoms that worsen when you bend your elbow
• Trouble with detailed hand tasks like writing or typing
• Finger numbness that wakes you up at night

Early treatment often works better than waiting, as prolonged nerve compression can cause permanent damage.

What happens during cubital tunnel release? 

The Anchor Spine & Joint team performs this outpatient procedure under local or general anesthesia. Through a small incision near your elbow, your surgeon locates your ulnar nerve and cuts the ligament compressing it. 

This procedure gives your nerves more room to move freely. Sometimes your surgeon may also reposition your nerve to a location where it's less likely to get compressed again. The entire process typically takes under an hour.

What is recovery like after cubital tunnel release? 

Recovery from cubital tunnel surgery typically lasts several weeks. You may need to wear a splint for a few weeks, but you can start gentle movements in early recovery. Many people notice a gradual improvement in their symptoms over several months. 

You may continue to notice that your numbness and tingling improve for up to a year following surgery. Physical therapy throughout your recovery can help you regain hand strength and coordination.

Cubital tunnel release can restore the normal feeling and function in your hand that nerve compression has been withholding. Contact Anchor Spine & Joint to learn if this procedure could reestablish sensation and strength in your fingers.