Sports injuries are extremely common and debilitating. Ligaments are torn, bones are broken, and you can be sidelined for up to months at a time. Today, we’ll be focusing on a particular sports injury affecting many baseball players out there, the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tear. Thankfully, Tommy John’s surgery can help get you back in the game. Here at Dines Orthopedics, we specialize in sports medicine treatments, with Tommy John surgery being one of our specialties. For Tommy John Surgery in Nassau County, NY, give us a call!
What is Your UCL?
Ligaments are bands of tissue that hold your bones together, control your joints, and are extremely strong. They tether your body together, and excessive movement or overextension can tear them. A tear in your ligament can take away your ability to move that joint effectively, sidelining you from a sport. Not to mention it can be extremely painful.
The UCL is located on the inside of your elbow and is attached to bones in your upper arm and forearm. It’s a complex ligament consisting of three bands, the anterior, posterior, and transverse! How exactly do you injure it?
A UCL injury can develop from repeating stress to your elbow or trauma to the area. Anybody can develop a UCL tear over time, but athletes required to throw it have it the most dangerous. The motions that twist your elbow to throw a ball put a lot of stress on your UCL. It can develop tears of varying sizes and degrees, which can impede your ability to throw. This injury commonly develops on baseball players, with over 10% of all baseball players having undergone Tommy John Surgery, but it’s not limited to this.
Other sports activities where UCL injuries commonly occur are;
- Javelin throw
- Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Football
- Wrestling
- Cheerleading
You might not expect some of these to appear on the list, but it’s something to take very seriously!
Symptoms of a UCL Injury
You should consult a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms;
- Pain on the inside of your elbow
- Your elbow feels loose or unstable
- Your “funny bone” is tingling
- You can’t throw a baseball or anything else very well
- Popping noise in your elbow
- Tingling or numbness in your pink and ring fingers
In rare cases, UCL injuries interfere with your day-to-day life, but you are sure to be wary of any elbow pain you might feel. In some cases, UCL injuries are diagnosed through a physical examination or through X-Ray and MRI.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity and your desires. UCL repair surgery should be on the table if you’re an athlete and want to return to your former glory. Nonsurgical treatment is pretty standard. You let your elbow rest, take anti-inflammatory medication, apply ice daily, and go to physical therapy. You have to train the muscles in your arm to compensate for the torn ligament, but you won’t be able to throw like you were before. This is where UCL reconstruction surgery comes in, or Tommy John Surgery.
Tommy John Surgery in Nassau County, NY
Named for the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, the first person to undergo this procedure in 1974. Tommy John’s surgery is where your injured UCL is replaced with a tendon taken from somewhere else in your body. It can let athletes return to their original level of play. The tendon can be taken from your wrist, forearm, toe, hamstrings, hip knee, or even your foot. It can also be donated from another, which is the case in some surgeries. The tendon (graft) is passed through tunnels drilled into your arm and woven around to reconstruct the ligament. Your original tendon is then attached to the graft for maximum strength. Nerve damage is the most common complication. The procedure takes about an hour to complete but much longer to recover from.
Rehabilitation from the procedure usually takes a year. It can take up to 5 months before you’re allowed to toss a ball lightly and can return to pitching after nine months. 90% of the cases have successful outcomes, which is a lifesaver for this sport!
Contact Us For Tommy John Surgery in Nassau County, NY
At Dines Orthopedics, we specialize in Tommy John’s surgery and many other procedures to keep you in the game. Don’t hesitate to give us a call for any of our orthopedic procedures and services, especially for Tommy John surgery in Nassau County, NY.