Location of UCL Tears in MLB Pitchers Can Help Determine if Surgery is Necessary
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers are high-impact due to player time lost and the resulting effect on teams and an athlete’s career, making treatment decisions an even greater challenge for physicians. Research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO, shows that the location of ligament tears within a pitcher’s elbow can be key to predicting the success of non-operative treatment for these injuries, and deciding whether surgery should be recommended.