Tommy John Surgery Explained

October 24, 2022 8:19 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you are involved in any type of overhead-throwing sports, you may have heard of Tommy John Surgery. You might be wondering exactly what this type of surgery entails and who needs this procedure. This quick guide will provide you with some information on the Tommy John surgery.

What Is a Tommy John Injury?

Tommy John is a term used to refer to an injury involving the ligament on the medial of the elbow. This is the inside of the elbow. This type of injury often affects athletes that must use overhead throwing movements. This can include baseball pitchers, quarterbacks, gymnasts, tennis players, volleyball players, and softball players.  

Where Did the Name Come From?

The nickname Tommy John originated because the first baseball player to ever have the innovative surgery to correct the injury was named Tommy John. The surgery was pioneered by Dr. Frank Jobe who performed the surgery in 1974. Tommy John made a full recovery and was able to go on to play baseball for the majors for 15 years.

What Does the Injury Consist Of?

A Tommy John injury occurs when the tissue in the ulnar collateral ligament becomes damaged or severed. This is a strong piece of collagen tissue. It connects one bone to another. This tissue, also called the UCL, is a major stabilizer of the elbow. Stabilization of the elbow is essential for proper throwing and many other activities.

What Are the Symptoms of a Tommy John Injury?

The UCL is often injured due to a single stressful event. In some cases, it can also result from slowly stretching the ligament over time. When the injury happens suddenly, an athlete may feel an intense pop in the elbow. This will be followed immediately by intense pain, swelling, and maybe bruising. When the injury happens more slowly, an athlete may start to notice increasing pain over time, accompanied by a loss of pitch or hitting velocity and accuracy.

How Is This Injury Diagnosed?

Most athletes will present with tenderness in the medial of the elbow. A valgus stress test will be conducted. This should only be done by a trained sports medicine specialist. This test can help the doctor determine if the ligament is withstanding proper stress or if it has been compromised. An MRI is also used to confirm the diagnosis.

What Is Tommy John Surgery?

If the ligament is only partially damaged, it can often be treated without surgery. Rest is prescribed followed by physical therapy. Later on, a progressively increased throwing program can be started. This line of treatment often takes about three months to complete.

A complete tear of the UCL will require Tommy John Surgery or UCL reconstruction. During the surgery, the torn ligament will be supplemented with other tissue. Once the graft is completed, there will be an extensive recovery period followed by physical therapy. Most athletes recover from this type of injury.

Categorized in:

This post was written by admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *