Tommy John injured the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on the inside of his elbow joint. Athletes with an injury to this ligament experience pain and discomfort on the inside of their elbow and also have instability in the elbow joint.

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries are first treated with conservative methods, such as physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, but if these treatments do not provide relief, surgical treatment is available.

Tommy John surgery, developed by Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974, is a surgical procedure to reconstruct the UCL. When the UCL tendon is torn, it most often cannot be stitched back together, requiring a tissue graft to repair the tendon. The tissue graft allows for a place for new ligament to grow.

Tommy John surgery offers tremendous benefits for active patients, especially pitchers. It allows patients with UCL injuries to return to their active, pre-injury lifestyles, and it can be used to extend the careers of many athletes.

If one of your athletes is suffering from an elbow injury, have him or her call (559) 256-5200 to schedule an appointment with one of our elbow specialists.

1630 East Herndon Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720