Direct Comparison of Modified Jobe and Docking Reconstructions With Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Suture...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Elbow Injuries

Background:

• Modified Jobe and docking are common ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction techniques with similar midterm outcomes.
• These techniques have not been compared to UCL repair with suture augmentation (SA).
• Longer-term follow-up data for these comparisons are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical outcomes of modified Jobe, docking, and UCL repair with SA at midterm follow-up.
• Evaluate the efficacy of three distinct surgical approaches for UCL injuries.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study (Level of evidence, 3) compared 24 UCL repairs with SA to matched patients from prior modified Jobe and docking cohorts.
• Follow-up averaged over 5 years, comparing Kerlan-Jobe scores, Conway Scale, and return-to-play times.
• Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and future surgical needs were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in Kerlan-Jobe scores or Conway Scale among the three techniques.
• The UCL repair with SA group returned to sport 4 months earlier than the reconstruction groups.
• The SA cohort showed a higher proportion of proximal tears compared to the docking group.

Conclusions:

• Modified Jobe, docking, and UCL repair with SA demonstrate comparable outcomes for UCL injuries at long-term follow-up.
• UCL repair with SA offers a faster return to sport.
• All three techniques are viable options for treating UCL injuries.