More Teen Athletes Undergoing Tommy John Elbow Surgery
Most Tommy John surgeries to fix elbows torn in sports-related injuries are being performed on teenagers, especially baseball pitchers, and the numbers are rising every year, a new study reports. Tommy John surgery fixes a torn ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL. The UCL is located on the inside of the elbow and connects the bone of the upper arm to a bone in the forearm.
“Doctor quote on young athletic related injuries”
Injuries that require Tommy John surgeries often occur in baseball players, especially pitchers, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). In fact, the surgery is named after major league pitcher Tommy John, who was the first professional baseball player to have the surgery, in 1974. In the procedure, surgeons replace the injured UCL with a tendon taken from the player’s own body, usually either the forearm or the knee.
Kids these days are playing sports year-round and often specializing in a single sport to improve their chances of getting a scholarship or making the big leagues, said lead author Dr. Brandon Erickson, out of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
They found that 15- to 19-year-olds accounted for 57 percent of the 790 Tommy John surgeries that occurred between 2007 and 2011. Young adults between 20 and 24 accounted for another 22 percent of Tommy John surgeries performed.
The 15-to-19 age group experienced an average 9 percent increase per year in the number of Tommy John surgeries, more than double the annual overall growth rate of 4 percent for all ages, the researchers found.
Tommy John surgery has been hailed for its ability to return major league pitchers to play. Four out of five pitchers in the major leagues who undergo Tommy John surgery eventually return to pitch as well as they had prior to surgery, according to a study presented at last year’s meeting of the AAOS.
If you would like more information about shoulder issues or Tommy John Surgery, Dr. Koo can provide excellent treatment options for you. Please feel free to contact Dr. Koo at 425.823.4000 to schedule an appointment at his Kirkland or Issaquah office locations. Watch Dr. Koo’s video to learn more about shoulder surgery and treatments!
