The Truth about Tommy John Surgery

The Truth About Tommy John Surgery

If you watch any professional baseball there is a good chance that at least one pitcher on the roster has had a “Tommy John Surgery”.  This is a surgical procedure to rebuild the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow, which can be torn due to repetitive throwing. The number of these surgeries being performed is increasing each year, but not just in professional athletes. In fact, more and more of these operations are being performed on youth baseball players as young as twelve years old. This is partly a product of the shear amount of baseball that kids are playing at a young age. Many high-level youth baseball players compete year round, and often play on more thane one team at a time. Their young arms never get a chance to rest and heal.

Another possible reason for the increase in this operation is that kids believe it will make them better pitchers. I have had several young patients tell me that they think they will throw harder and come back stronger if they have a Tommy John procedure. There also is a perception that the surgery works every time. Its understandable that people would think this because there are so many major leaguers who have had the operation and returned to competition.

However, the truth is that not all baseball players return to their desired level of function. In fact, a study published this year in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found that nearly 20% of athletes undergoing an ulnar collateral reconstruction failed to return to their prior level of competition. We should discuss this openly with young athletes who are weighing their options and considering Tommy John surgery, and remind them that surgery is never a sure thing.

Dr. Carofino is an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery. He has expertise in Tommy John surgery, and treatment of baseball injuries. Dr. Carofino sees patients in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, and is a team physician for the Norfolk Tides. If you have questions Dr. Carofino can be contacted at carofinob@atlanticortho.com