PT Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Clinical Practice Exam

Which nerve is commonly implicated in cubital tunnel entrapment tested by Tinel's sign at the elbow?

Median nerve Ulnar nerve Radial nerve Axillary nerve

Correct Answer:

Ulnar nerve

Explanation:

Tinel's sign at the elbow targets irritation of the ulnar nerve as it travels through the cubital tunnel behind the medial epicondyle. If the ulnar nerve is compressed there, tapping over the cubital tunnel can reproduce tingling or paresthesias in the ulnar distribution (the little finger and the ulnar side of the ring finger), which is characteristic of cubital tunnel entrapment. Because this entrapment specifically involves the ulnar nerve at the elbow, it’s the nerve most commonly implicated in this scenario. Other nerves would produce symptoms in different areas: the median nerve in its typical forearm/hand distributions, the radial nerve in its radial tunnel or forearm regions, and the axillary nerve around the shoulder.

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