What Is
Tommy John Surgery?
Ligament reconstruction of the elbow is typically conducted in patients who have had an elbow dislocation that fails to heal properly. A vast majority of elbow dislocations do not necessitate surgery but when they do a simple surgery can be conducted to stabilize your joint to restore function and relieve pain.
Tommy John surgery is conducted on patients who have overuse injuries (typically baseball pitchers or overhead athletes) and experience pain with throwing at high velocity (usually around 80+ mph). This reconstruction is conducted on the medial ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. This is usually a last resort after taking time off (2-3 months) from throwing and failing therapy. There is a very high success rate with this surgery in patients who fail conservative treatment.
Tommy John Surgery