Medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using hamstring allograft in overhead throwing athletes.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) reconstruction commonly utilizes autografts.
• Donor-site morbidity is a potential complication with autograft procedures.
• Allograft tendon use for primary MUCL reconstruction has not been extensively studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of hamstring allograft for MUCL reconstruction in overhead throwing athletes.
• To compare allograft outcomes with established autograft results.
• To determine if hamstring allografts provide similar efficacy to autografts without donor-site morbidity.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 123 overhead throwing athletes with MUCL injuries.
• All patients underwent hamstring allograft reconstruction after failed nonoperative treatment.
• Follow-up included Conway-Jobe rating, return to play metrics, and patient satisfaction over a minimum of 24 months.

Main Results:

• 110 of 116 patients returned to play, with 30% returning to a higher level.
• Mean time to return to play was 9.9 months.
• 80% of patients achieved an excellent Conway-Jobe score, with 114/116 considering the reconstruction successful.

Conclusions:

• Hamstring allograft reconstruction is a viable option for MUCL injuries in throwing athletes.
• Outcomes are comparable to those reported for autograft procedures.
• Allograft use may mitigate donor-site morbidity associated with autografts.