Ulnar collateral ligament repair with internal brace is a viable option for pitchers with partially torn ligaments, according to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Researchers evaluated how 111 overhead-throwing athletes recovered following UCL repair with internal brace. Researchers collected demographic and operative data at the time of surgery, then collected return-to-play scores and Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic scores at both one year and two years postoperatively.
What you should know:
1. Ninety-two percent of players — or 102 athletes — returned to the same level of competition or higher after UCL repair with internal brace.
2. The athletes returned to play after 6.7 months, on average. Traditional UCL reconstruction sidelines athletes for more than a year.
3. The patients reported mean KJOC scores of 88.2.
"UCL repair with internal brace augmentation is a viable option for amateur overhead throwers with selected UCL injuries who wish to return to sport in a shorter time frame than allowed by traditional UCL reconstruction," Researchers concluded.
Becker's published a feature story on UCL repair with internal brace in January 2017. Read more.