To evaluate the value of Guyon’s canal decompression in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy with (DPN) microsurgery.

Eleven patients (14 sides) with upper extremity DPN, admitted to Neurosurgery Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from March 2019 to March 2020, underwent microsurgical decompression of the Guyon’s canal, 7 of whom underwent unilateral ulnar nerve decompression of the cubital canal. The ulnar nerve decompression of the cubital canal and Guyon’s canal were performed in 4 patients, 3 patients were bilateral and 1 patient was unilateral. Postoperative follow-up was conducted to observe the improvement of sensory dysfunction (hand numbness, pain), motor dysfunction and two-point discrimination perception.

All patients were followed up for an average of 12 months. In 11 patients with upper extremity DPN, numbness was relieved by 85.71% (12/14), pain was relieved by 100% (14/14), dyskinesia was improved by 71.43% (10/14), and little finger discrimination was improved by 85.71% (12/14).

The ulnar nerve entrapment in the Guyon’s canal is easy to be neglected in DPN and should be paid enough attention in clinical practice. The ulnar nerve decompression in the Guyon’s canal plays an important value in upper extremity DPN.