Beware of the Cell Phone Elbow

A report in the May issue of the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine "cell phone elbow" or cubital tunnel syndrome is a serious issue that can sometimes lead to clawing of the middle finger if left untreated.

The condition results in numbness, tingling and pain in the forearm and hand and is caused by the constant pressure exerted by a flexed elbow in the ulnar nerve, which has its route through the elbow.

"Repetitive, sustained stretching of the nerve is like stepping on a garden hose," said Dr. Peter J. Evans, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Hand and Upper Extremity Center. "With the hose, you're blocking the flow of water. With the elbow, you're blocking the blood flow to the nerve, which causes it to misfire and short circuit."

In serious cases anti-inflammatory injections or surgery may be required. While yakking on cell phones may not be the only cause for this syndrome, it is advisable to cut down on the talk time on your cell phones.



Source-Medindia
RAS