UCLR is now performed significantly more in teenagers age 15 to 19 than any other age group, according to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Here are five things to know:
1. In a retrospective analysis, researchers used a private-payer database to identify UCLR procedures performed from 2007 to 2011.
2. The average annual incidence of UCLR per 100,000 people for patients aged 15 to 19 was 22 ± 3.4, according to the study abstract.
3. Researchers also found the number of UCLR procedures is increasing over time.
4. Brandon J. Erickson, MD, of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago was the studies lead author.
5. Dr. Erickson calls for further work to address risk reduction efforts.
"The research numbers suggest that more young athletes believe that having an UCLR procedure performed earlier in their career may lead to the big leagues or a scholarship, even though only one in 200 kids who play high school baseball will make it to the MLB," Dr. Erickson told CBS News.
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