Epidemiology and Estimated Cost of Surgery for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Conducted by the Unified Health System in Brazil (2005–2015)

Abstract

Introduction Cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS) is responsible for one of the types of ulnar nerve neuropathy and is the second cause of compressive neuropathy of the upper limb, only surpassed by carpal tunnel syndrome. Objective To describe the epidemiological data of the ulnar nerve transposition surgical code in the treatment of CTS by the United Health System (SUS) from 2005 to 2015. Methodology This is a descriptive epidemiological study, in which data were obtained through consultation of the DATASUS database. Results/Discussion During this period, 774 procedures were performed and, despite the addition of 20.3 million people to the Brazilian population, the incidence was 0.33/1,000,000. National and international epidemiology point to a slightly higher prevalence of the procedure between men, in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Low permanence rate, as well as the absence of hospital deaths related to the procedure, infer that the procedure is safe, with low morbidity and mortality rates. Conclusion The annual incidence of the cubital syndrome submitted to surgical treatment at SUS in the Brazilian population was 1/7,670,833 in 2005 and ½,174,468 in 2015. The cost of each surgical procedure during the same period ranged from R$ 318.88 to R$ 539.74. The mean hospitalization time for CTS surgery was 1.85 days.