Tommy John Surgery, also known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in sports medicine primarily used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow. This injury is common among baseball players, particularly pitchers, due to the repetitive and high-stress nature of the pitching motion.
The procedure is named after Tommy John, a major league baseball pitcher who was the first to undergo the surgery in 1974. The surgery was performed by Dr. Frank Jobe and was considered revolutionary at the time.
During the surgery, the damaged UCL is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, or sometimes from a donor. This tendon graft is threaded through holes drilled in the bone above and below the elbow, forming a new ligament. After the surgery, an extensive rehabilitation process is necessary to regain strength and flexibility in the arm.
The success rate of Tommy John Surgery is quite high, allowing many athletes to return to their previous level of competition, although the recovery time can be significant, often taking more than a year for full recovery.
See more medical animations and physician interviews at: [ Ссылка ]
Follow us for bite-sized medical content at:
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
