Safety of Cubital Tunnel Release Under General versus Regional Anesthesia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of early (<6 weeks) post-operative complications following ulnar nerve decompressions at the cubital tunnel performed under regional anesthesia compared to those performed under general anesthesia. Methods: In situ ulnar nerve decompressions at the cubital tunnel performed at a single institution from 2012 through 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Post-operative complications were compared between subjects who underwent the procedure with regional versus general anesthesia. Results: Ninety-one ulnar nerve in situ decompressions were included in the study, which were performed under regional anesthesia in 55 and general anesthesia in 36 cases. The occurrence of post-operative complications was not significantly different between patients who received regional (n = 7) anesthesia and general (n = 8) anesthesia. None of the complications were directly attributed to the type of anesthesia administered. The change in pre- and post-operative McGowan scores were not significantly different between anesthesia groups (p = 0.81). Conclusion: In situ ulnar nerve decompression at the cubital tunnel under regional anesthesia does not result in increased postoperative complications compared to those surgeries performed under general anesthesia. In situ ulnar nerve decompression performed under regional anesthesia is a safe and reliable option for patients who wish to avoid general anesthesia. Level of Evidence: III.