Return to play after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with concurrent posterior-compartment decompression

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Elbow Arthroscopy

Background:

• Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries and posterior elbow impingement are common in throwing athletes.
• Surgical treatments for these individual pathologies show high return-to-play (RTP) rates.
• This study reports RTP rates for concurrent UCL reconstruction (UCLR) and arthroscopic posterior débridement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the return-to-play rates for throwing athletes undergoing simultaneous UCL reconstruction and arthroscopic posterior débridement.
• To assess the efficacy of combined surgical intervention for UCL injuries and posterior elbow impingement.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of elbow medial UCL procedures from January 2016 to September 2020.
• Inclusion criteria: throwing athletes with elbow medial UCL operation and arthroscopic posterior-compartment débridement.
• Exclusion criteria: isolated UCLR, non-primary surgery, revision UCLR.

Main Results:

• Twelve patients met the criteria; 10 returned to play at the same or higher level.
• Average RTP time was 14.64 months.
• Pitchers showed no significant difference in performance statistics before and after surgery.

Conclusions:

• Concurrent UCLR and arthroscopic posterior decompression is a reliable and successful treatment for UCL injury with posterior impingement.
• This combined approach offers a safe and effective option for athletes.
• No significant decline in pitching performance was observed post-operatively.