Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction (Tommy John Surgery)

Overview

This procedure is designed to repair a torn elbow ligament - an injury typically caused by strong, repetitive overhead throwing motions of the arm or by dislocation of the elbow. It was first performed in 1974 on baseball pitcher Tommy John.

Preparation

The surgeon harvests a tendon from the patient's own body. The palmaris longus tendon of the forearm is most frequently used, but the surgeon may instead choose to take a tendon from the hand, wrist or knee. In some cases, a tendon from an organ donor may be used.

Accessing the Elbow Joint

The surgeon makes an incision along the inner side of the elbow, exposing the damaged medial ulnar collateral ligament.

Drilling the Holes

Tunnels are drilled through the humerus (upper arm bone) and ulna (a lower arm bone) at the points where the damaged ligament normally attaches.

Inserting the Tendon

The harvested tendon is looped through the tunnels in a figure-eight pattern. The tendon is sutured to itself, stabilizing the joint.

End of Procedure

The incision is closed, and the elbow is immobilized in a hard brace for one to two weeks. The patient may then be allowed to switch to a hinged brace and begin limited exercise of the arm. Supervised throwing may begin at three to four months; competitive throwing may be allowed at six to nine months. Most athletes regain their pre-injury level of function about 12-18 months after surgery.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.