Study: UCL Reconstruction Effective for Returning Athletes to Play

Orthopedic Sports Medicine

Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with the subcutaneous ulnar nerve transposition is an effective procedure to correct elbow instability in athletes and often returns the athlete to the same level of performance or higher than they were prior to surgery in less than a year, according to an article published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Researchers examined UCL reconstruction or repair in 1,281 patients over a 19-year period and collected retrospective surveys determining outcomes and return to performance after surgery. Researchers received surveys from 942 patients.

More than 615 of the patients returned to their previous level-of-competition or higher. The average time between surgery and the initiation of throwing was 4.4 months, and the average time between surgery and full competition was 11.6 months. Complications occurred in 20 percent of the cases, four percent of which involved major complications.

Read the abstract about UCL reconstruction.

Read other coverage on UCL injuries:

- Dr. Lewis Yocum Performs Tommy John Surgery on Washington Nationals Pitcher Stephen Strasburg

- Orthopedic and Spine Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Frank Jobe of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles




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