Neal ElAttrache, MD, will repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in the right elbow of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards, MLB.com reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Mr. Richards will miss the rest of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season.
2. Throughout his career, Mr. Richards has been plagued with arm injuries. He partially tore the same UCL in 2016 but managed to avoid Tommy John by receiving a stem cell injection. He returned in 2017 but then had a nerve issue in his right bicep.
3. Mr. Richards returned again in 2018, pitching successfully until July 10, when he felt discomfort in his arm. An MRI confirmed the UCL damage.
4. When asked about his 2016 UCL tear, he defended the stem cell treatment by saying, "I had a unique case. Mine wasn't tearing typically like everybody else's usually does. I had kind of a unique case to where we felt comfortable giving it a shot. I think that if somebody out there is going through the same thing, and they're advised from several doctors that they might have a decent chance at getting this thing back to playable shape, then why not?"
5. Mr. Richards will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
6. Dr. ElAttrache is an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. He is the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Foundation board chairman and program director for the Kerlan-Jobe fellowship. He is president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
7. He is the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams. He is also an orthopedic consultant to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and the PGA Tour.