Adolescent Pitcher Recovery from Partial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tear after Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as a regenerative treatment for partial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears, is validated to lead to faster clinical recovery and return to play in adult athletes. However, studies examining such a role of PRP in younger pediatric and adolescent athletes are scarce. A 14-year-old adolescent throwing athlete, a right-handed pitcher, presented with chronic right medial elbow pain discovered to be secondary to a partial UCL tear, as identified on both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. A single ultrasound-guided injection of PRP to the pathologic site of the partial UCL tear, in concert with our standardized rehabilitation protocol for throwing athletes after UCL injuries, enabled the boy to heal and return to throwing at full pitching distance without pain and without complications. This emphasizes the utility of PRP as a regenerative treatment option in an adolescent throwing athlete.