Clinical Research Directory

Comparing Surgical and Nonsurgical Outcomes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs when the ulnar nerve, which runs along the inside of the elbow, becomes irritated or compressed. It can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and arm. The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether early surgery leads to better outcomes than a non-surgical treatment approach using an elbow night splint for mild-to-moderate cubital tunnel syndrome in adults. This study aims to answer the following questions: * Does earlier surgical intervention improve patient-reported pain, symptoms, and function more than treatment with an elbow night splint after one year? * How do symptoms, function, nerve function, and ultrasound findings compare between the two treatments over two years? * How often do people who initially receive treatment with an elbow night splint end up needing surgery? * Researchers will compare early surgery with treatment using an elbow night splint to see how the two approaches affect symptoms and function. Participants will... * be randomly assigned to have surgery or to receive treatment with an elbow night splint. * have a physical examination at each study visit. * have tests of nerve function and ultrasound imaging of the elbow. * answer questionnaires about their symptoms, pain, and arm and hand function. * attend appointments at the start of the study, and at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

Comparison of Kinesio Taping Techniques in Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the efficacy of space-correction kinesio taping and neural technique kinesio taping-when added to a home exercise program-versus placebo taping with exercise in individuals with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is the second most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. It leads to symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the fourth and fifth digits, hand muscle weakness, and reduced manual dexterity, which negatively impact quality of life. Conservative treatment options include activity modification, nerve gliding exercises, and kinesio taping. Although kinesio taping is widely used in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, evidence regarding the comparative efficacy of different taping techniques in ulnar nerve entrapment remains limited. In this study, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: Space-Correction Kinesio Taping + Exercise Group Neural Technique Kinesio Taping + Exercise Group Placebo Kinesio Taping + Exercise Group The taping intervention will be administered over 3 weeks for a total of 3 sessions (1 session per week, with tape applied for 3 days followed by a 4-day tape-free interval). All participants will receive activity modification education and perform home ulnar nerve gliding exercises twice daily (10 repetitions per session) for 3 weeks. Outcome evaluations-including symptom severity, clinical parameters, and electrophysiological measurements-will be conducted at baseline, at the end of week 3 (post-treatment), and at the 3-month follow-up.

Posture Correction in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the UpRight Go posture trainer reduces the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome in patients who have not had corrective surgery, as determined by improvements in VAS scores for pain, numbness, and weakness.

Median and Ulnar Nerve Function in Tattoo Artists

This case-control study aims to investigate the effects of occupational hand-arm vibration exposure on median and ulnar nerve functions in tattoo artists. Chronic exposure to vibration generated by tattoo machines may lead to neurosensory impairment, reduced tactile sensitivity, and decreased hand strength. Objective assessments including nerve provocation tests, sensory threshold evaluation, two-point discrimination, vibration perception, grip and pinch strength measurements, and validated patient-reported outcome questionnaires will be used. Findings will be compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Comparative Efficacy of Soft Tissue Mobilization and Ulnar Nerve-Specific Strengthening Exercises in Patients With Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve is compressed or irritated near the elbow. It can cause elbow or forearm pain, numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers, hand weakness, and difficulty performing daily activities. This randomized clinical trial will compare two conservative physiotherapy programs for adults with mild to moderate cubital tunnel syndrome. A total of 56 participants will be assigned by computer-generated randomization to one of two groups. Group A will receive soft tissue mobilization combined with ulnar nerve-specific strengthening and nerve-gliding exercises. Group B will receive soft tissue mobilization alone. Both groups will also receive education about activity modification, ergonomic correction, and avoiding prolonged elbow bending. Treatment will be provided three times per week for four weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Participants will be assessed before treatment and at the end of the fourth week. The main outcomes will be pain intensity, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and upper-limb disability, measured using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. The study aims to determine whether adding ulnar nerve-specific strengthening and nerve-gliding exercises to soft tissue mobilization provides greater improvement in pain and upper-limb function than soft tissue mobilization alone.

A Randomized Trial Measuring the Effect of Decision Aids on Patients' Satisfaction, Conflict of Decision-making and Clinical Outcome

The investigators plan a prospective randomized controlled study that compares the treatment decisions made by patients who receive decision aids, as compared to patients treated with usual care and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand brochures. The investigators expect to enroll 126 patients.

Early Functional Response as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Hand Rehabilitation: A Prospective Feasibility Study Using a Digital Monitoring System

This study investigates whether early changes observed during the first weeks of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation can predict patient outcomes months later. In rehabilitation practice, clinicians make numerous decisions each session regarding exercise type, frequency, duration, and treatment approach. Most of these decisions are currently made without systematic longitudinal data. This study addresses three fundamental questions using data collected during routine clinical care: (1) Can the rate of improvement in the first weeks of treatment predict functional status months later, across both session-based and milestone-based time points? (2) Are there meaningfully different recovery profiles among hand rehabilitation patients? (3) Is there measurable variation in clinical decision-making among patients with similar profiles, and does this variation relate to outcomes? A digital patient monitoring platform developed by the principal investigator, a physiotherapist and academic researcher specializing in hand rehabilitation serves as the data collection infrastructure. The platform records standard clinical assessment measures in a structured format and has been in active clinical use at Hacettepe University prior to this study. For research purposes, the system has been expanded to include structured capture of patient-reported outcomes, patient global impression of change, treatment protocol coding, home exercise adherence, and automated calculation of early response metrics. This is a 12-month prospective observational cohort study enrolling a minimum of 60 patients. Data are stored securely on the university's institutional network. Patients are anonymized using identification codes. The study is subject to Hacettepe University Ethics Committee approval and participant informed consent. Findings are expected to generate evidence supporting data-driven clinical decision-making in rehabilitation and to provide a feasibility foundation for a larger multi-center study.

Conditioning Electrical Stimulation to Improve Outcomes in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common compression neuropathy. In severe cases, functional recovery, even with surgery, is often poor. Therefore, alternative adjunct treatments capable of increasing the speed of nerve regeneration are much needed.

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Kinesiological Taping in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

This study aims to investigate the effect of kinesiological taping, applied in addition to exercise, on clinical symptoms in patients diagnosed with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. The patients will be randomized into three groups (exercise, exercise + kinesiological taping, exercise + sham taping) and will be evaluated at the 1st and 3rd months after a 3-week treatment period.

Promoting Healing of Nerves Through Electrical Stimulation

This study is evaluating a new therapeutic use of electrical stimulation to promote nerve healing and improve functional recovery following surgical intervention for nerve compression. A single dose of the therapeutic stimulation is delivered as part of the surgical intervention to address compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow.