Many pitchers bear a prominent scar along their elbows, resembling the symbol of an exclusive club. The price of entry? Enduring an elbow injury requiring reconstructive surgery.
Tommy John surgery, pioneered by Frank Jobe 50 years ago, involves reconstructing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) by grafting a replacement tendon, typically from the forearm or hamstring. Despite its groundbreaking nature, the procedure has become increasingly common. Dr. Neal El Attrache, head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has performed numerous surgeries throughout his career.
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ElAttrache describes the prevalence of the surgery as “pretty staggering.” Over 30 percent of Major League Baseball pitchers have undergone Tommy John surgery, with 38 undergoing the procedure in the last 13 months alone. Currently, approximately 75 pitchers are dealing with elbow issues, including Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians and Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves.
Several Dodgers pitchers, including Shohei Ohtani, Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Tyler Glasnow, have undergone Tommy John surgery at least once, with some undergoing the procedure multiple times.
ElAttrache acknowledges the absence of a simple solution to the issue but offers a cautionary message. He warns that the strain placed on the UCL is surpassing its maximum capacity at an escalating rate.
“I never underestimate the demands of the human body. And I try not to overestimate what I, as a human being, can do to fix it,” ElAttrache stated in an interview with the Daily Mail. He expresses concern that current medical procedures may not be sufficient to meet the demands placed on pitchers today.
The surgeon’s primary fear is that the number of injuries will continue to rise until surgical intervention is no longer effective in restoring players to their previous levels of performance.
