The year was 1974, and Tommy John had a life-defining decision to make: undergo a then-risky surgery or face the end of his athletic career. Having torn the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) inside his elbow, the Major League Baseball pitcher agreed to an experimental surgery to reconstruct the ligament and restore his arm. It was such a success that he returned to the mound for 15 more years, and blessed the procedure with his name. Fifty years later, with even more precision and efficacy, Tommy John surgery benefits more than just the professionals.
“Stress on the elbow is becoming far more common in young athletes due to the specialization of youth sports, more intense seasons, and the increased demands on young pitchers,” says Dr. Jimmy J. Chan, an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation surgery at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates. “When athletes start to throw breaking balls or pitch at over 80 miles per hour, that repetition of motion leads to overuse, resulting in injury to the ulnar collateral ligament.” Competitive football, tennis, and gymnastics can also place strain on the elbow.
In the outpatient Tommy John procedure, Dr. Chan makes small incisions on the inside of the elbow to remove the damaged section of tissue. Through those openings, he threads several inches of tissue grafted from either a patient’s wrist or hamstring or with donor tissue from a cadaver. Dr. Chan then retrofits the new graft in a loop that anchors the bones, restoring function and stability to the elbow joint. His prior fellowship in hand surgery has equipped him with the knowledge to minimize the risk of consequences such as nerve problems.
“At White Plains Hospital, we have a multi-disciplinary team to support patients before, during, and after Tommy John surgery and other procedures,” says Dr. Chan. “Patients have ready access to the best hospital for fractures, ligament injuries, and nerve issues involving the elbow—right here in Westchester.”
Recovery begins with exercises to gain range of motion, followed by strength training. “The secured graft is exceptionally strong, both in terms of biomechanics and the neuromuscular pathway that links the brain and the arm,” Dr. Chan says. After 12 to 18 months, players are back on the mound or the court, often with renewed endurance. “I tell patients their arms are stronger than ever, so chances are lower of subsequent injury,” he says, adding that athletes should still make time for rest and rehab.
Jimmy Chan, MD is a double-fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand/upper extremity and sports medicine/joint preservation surgery. To schedule an appointment, call 914-849-7897