Comparing two surgical procedures for ulnar nerve issues at the elbow

Clinical Trial for Surgery of the Ulnar Nerve (SUN) at the Elbow

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10918036

This study is looking at how well two different surgeries work for people with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, and if you join, you'll be randomly assigned to one of the surgeries without anyone knowing which one you got, so we can see which is better for helping you recover over the next year.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-10918036 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of two surgical procedures for treating ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, a condition that can lead to disability if not treated. Patients diagnosed with this condition will be randomly assigned to either in-situ decompression or subcutaneous anterior transposition surgery. The study is designed to be double-blind, meaning neither the patients nor the researchers assessing outcomes will know which procedure each patient received, ensuring unbiased results. Participants will be followed for one year to evaluate recovery, complications, and overall functional outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow who have not responded to conservative treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with ulnar neuropathy who are not surgical candidates or those who have already undergone surgery may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective surgical treatments for ulnar neuropathy, improving recovery and quality of life for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have struggled to show clear differences between these surgical approaches, making this trial's novel design particularly important.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.