Surgical procedures
swelling
All surgeries were performed by the same surgical team and under general anesthesia. The ulnar nerve was released at all common sites of compression around the elbow. An in-situ decompression was performed in the majority of cases. Intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring was performed before and after the decompression. The compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) amplitudes of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle and the motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in the ulnar nerve were recorded. After the decompression, patients in the ES group received electrical stimulation. In this study, alternative high- and low-frequency electrical stimulation was used (100 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz, 15 min). After the decompression, patients in the ES group received electrical stimulation on the most severely compressed site. In this study, alternative high- and low-frequency electrical stimulation was used (100 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz, 15 min). Electrical stimulation was performed by Grass SD9 stimulator (Grass Technologies, Warwick, Rhode Island). The proximal wire electrode was connected to the cathode and the distal to the anode.The conservative treatments included oral analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and neurotrophic drugs; in addition, the patient has a history of treatment related to acupoint application of traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling.