E. Lyle Cain, Jr, MD, et al. Outcome of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Elbow in 1281 Athletes.
In The American Journal of Sports Medicine. December 2010. Vol. 38. No. 12. Pp. 2426-2434
When it comes to ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in overhead throwing athletes, the authors of this study bring a wealth of experience to the table. After performing surgery on 1,281 patients, their success rate is much higher than reported in other published studies.
They performed a reconstructive procedure called the Tommy John surgery.
In this operation, the ulnar nerve is moved away from the bone and a piece of fascia (connective tissue) is used like a sling to hold the nerve in its new place. During the same procedure, the damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is replaced with a piece of graft tissue.
After years of trying various tendon grafts, these surgeons have settled on using the palmaris longus tendon from the wrist and forearm. This tendon is easy to harvest, stabilises the nerve well, and is easier than other tendon grafts to get the correct tension. For patients who do not have a palmaris longus tendon, the gracilis (hamstring) tendon or plantaris tendon in the foot can be used instead.
The goal of this type of reconstructive surgery is to return the athlete to his (or her) previous top level of performance (i.e., performance level before injury). Of the 942 patients in this study, 83 per cent were able to get back to their sport at full participation. Athletes involved in sports included football players, javelin throwers, tennis players, wrestlers, soccer players, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and pole vaulters.
The surgery was done after at least a three-month trial of conservative (nonoperative) care. Rest, pain relieving medications, and rehab exercises were part of the nonsurgical treatment. Some athletes made the decision for an earlier surgical date based on where they were in the season (beginning, in-season, post-season).
Surgery was always preceded by magnetic resonance arthrograms (MRAs). This type of MRI uses a contrast dye injected into the area to show the presence of bone spurs or other damage. The surgeon could address any of these additional problems at the time of the reconstructive procedure. Arthroscopic exam before surgery was also done to confirm elbow instability.
Surgery wasn’t the end of treatment. Rehabilitation in four phases began right after surgery and continued until the athlete was able to resume full sports participation. The rehab program used at this facility was based on research performed by a well-known physical therapist (Kevin Wilk). Working with a physical therapist, the athlete can expect to get full, pain-free motion back five to six weeks after surgery.
Strengthening, stretching, and sport-specific exercises were carried out during the next phase. The entire upper extremity is involved in the rehab program (not just the elbow). By the end of the rehab program, the athletes were involved in activities and exercises that integrate the entire body (arms, legs, trunk, abdomen). Stability, strength, motion, and endurance were all restored fully before returning to sports action.
Not only was there an 83 per cent success rate (athletes returning to pre-injury level of play), almost half of the patients (41 per cent) advanced to a higher level of play. Some of the athletes were able to move from a minor league to major league; others moved up from amateur to professional baseball. Only a small number of patients (11 per cent) did not return to sports participation at all.
It should be noted that despite these good results, there was a fairly high rate of complications (20 per cent or one in every five players had a problem after surgery). Some of the problems were minor and temporary (e.g., loss of ulnar nerve function). Others suffered more major sensory and motor loss with numbness and weakness. Fracture of the bone through which a tunnel was drilled to place the tendon graft was reported in five patients. The fracture complication rate was only 0.5 per cent.
