Cubital tunnel surgery decompresses the ulnar nerve at your elbow, helping reduce numbness and tingling while supporting the return of strength and fine hand control.
You might consider this if your symptoms are persisting despite splints, making changes to your activity, or physical therapy.
Procedure Time
30 – 45 minutes
Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic (WALANT) or regional anaesthetic.
Recovery
Light activity in 1 – 2 weeks; manual work in 4 – 6 weeks.
Full Results
Symptom relief over weeks; strength may improve for several months.
Releasing the nerve often eases your ring and little finger symptoms within days or weeks.
Decompression helps the ulnar nerve function more effectively, supporting your hand strength and coordination.
The surgery is performed as a day surgery and you begin gentle movement immediately.
Surgery stops ongoing compression at the elbow, helping you prevent long-term weakness or muscle wasting in the hand.
Over 85 – 90% of patients with nerve conduction study-proven cubital tunnel syndrome, experience lasting improvement following cubital tunnel release.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation is a space to talk through your symptoms, how long they’ve been present and how they affect your daily life. Your surgeon will examine your hand and elbow, assess nerve function, and review any investigations such as X-rays, ultrasound scan or nerve conduction studies. You’ll receive clear, honest guidance about whether surgery is recommended and what improvement you can expect based on the severity of your compression.
The operation is performed under local anaesthetic using the WALANT technique or under regional anaesthetic, keeping you awake but comfortable throughout. A small incision is made along the inner elbow, and the tight ligament or fibrous tissue pressing on the nerve is carefully released. In some cases, the nerve may be moved to the front of the elbow (transposition) or a small piece of bone may be removed to give it more space. A soft dressing is applied, and you can move your arm straight away. Most people go home shortly afterwards.
You’ll begin gentle elbow and finger movement immediately after surgery to minimise stiffness. Keep your dressing clean and dry until your follow-up, usually within 7 – 10 days. Stitches are removed at around two weeks. Most people return to light activities within 1 – 2 weeks, driving once they can safely control the arm, and manual work after 4 – 6 weeks. Tingling and discomfort often improve early on, while recovery of strength and coordination can take several months in more advanced cases. We might recommend hand therapy to support your progress.
At The Antler Clinic, your care is led by Mr David Izadi, a highly experienced Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgeon and recognised national expert in peripheral nerve surgery. With more than 20 years of specialist experience, he combines advanced surgical expertise with the calm, honest, and patient-centred approach that patients value most.
Mr Izadi treats a wide range of peripheral nerve conditions in both NHS and private practice, including nerve compression syndromes, nerve injuries, painful neuromas, and complex upper limb nerve disorders. He is recognised for his expertise in minimally invasive nerve surgery and has pioneered his own minimal access surgical technique, designed to avoid traditional scars across the wrist, reduce post-operative pain, and promote a faster return to function and recovery
To develop his specialist expertise, Mr Izadi completed prestigious hand surgery fellowships at two of the world’s leading hand surgery centres: The Pulvertaft Hand Centre, Derby, and Institut de la Main, Paris. He remains actively involved in specialist multidisciplinary care as a core member of the Warwickshire Hand Surgery MDT, ensuring patients benefit from the latest evidence-based treatments and collaborative decision-making.
Whether treating common nerve compression syndromes or complex peripheral nerve conditions, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual. Mr Izadi takes time to understand what matters most to each patient, delivering personalised care with a focus on restoring function, relieving pain, and achieving the best possible outcomes.
A quick guide to the things most people want to know before and after their procedure.
Most people describe mild discomfort for a few days after their cubital tunnel surgery. WALANT keeps the procedure comfortable, and simple pain relief is usually enough afterwards.
Cubital tunnel surgery is considered a minor but important procedure. It is done through a small incision under local anaesthetic, and most people go home the same day.
You can get back to light activity 1–2 weeks after your cubital tunnel surgery. Manual or repetitive work may need 4 – 6 weeks. Your full strength can take several months to return.
After cubital tunnel surgery, you can drive once you can safely control your arm. This will usually be after 2 weeks.
If cubital tunnel syndrome is left untreated, then your symptoms may worsen, and long-term compression can cause permanent numbness, weakness or muscle wasting.
If we’ve caught things early, then you might see improvement in your numbness within weeks. For severe or long-standing cases you may recover more slowly, and some numbness can persist.
No, you won’t be put to sleep for cubital tunnel surgery. Most procedures are performed using local anaesthetic (WALANT), keeping you awake but pain-free.
A cast is rarely needed after cubital tunnel surgery. Most patients only require a soft dressing and begin movement immediately.
After cubital tunnel surgery, you should avoid heavy lifting, pushing, pulling or prolonged elbow bending until advised. Your surgeon will guide you based on your progress.
If you delay moving your elbow soon after surgery, then mild stiffness can occur. To minimise this, you should follow the gentle exercises we’ll take you through.
Mr Izadi is one of a handful of surgeons in the UK, who combines cubital tunnel release with nerve transfer surgery using a branch of the anterior interosseous nerve to restore the power, function and dexterity to the hand of patients with muscle wasting.
Cubital tunnel surgery is very safe. As with any procedure, there are some risks. These include tenderness or sensitivity around the scar, temporary nerve irritation, infection, elbow stiffness, persistent symptoms if the nerve remains scarred, or, very rarely, CRPS. Overall success rates exceed 85–90%, and serious complications are uncommon. We’ll talk through everything with you during your consultation.
This is where the ulnar nerve is compressed at the level of the wrist in an anatomical site called the Guyon’s canal. It is less common than cubital tunnel syndrome, but should this be suspected, Mr Izadi will arrange specific investigations and can release the nerve at this site if indicated.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Mr Izadi is registered with the private medical insurers shown below. Coverage for consultations and treatment is subject to the terms of your policy and insurers approval.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
