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Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body (often from the forearm, hamstring, knee, or foot of the patient). The procedure is common among collegiate and professional athletes in several sports, most notably baseball.
The surgery is named after Tommy John, a pitcher who was the first professional athlete to successfully undergo the operation in 1974. The procedure was performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, who also serves as a Special Advisor to Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Frank McCourt.
Strasburg The pitching mechanics that produced a 14-strikeout Major League debut and a promising start to a professional career are part of what’s being examined in the wake of Stephen Strasburg’s torn elbow ligament, almost certain surgery to come and a long rehabilitation process to follow.
At issue for some is Strasburg’s “inverted W” delivery in which his elbows rise above his shoulders as his front foot hits the ground, before the point of release — mechanics some say are flawed and have helped send pitchers like Mark Prior and Kerry Wood down a road of arm injuries.
Strasburg ” tommy john surgery recovery ”
Stephen Strasburg Photo
tommy john surgery photo
Washington Nationals rookie sensation is done for the season — and maybe next season as well — after the team announced Friday that he has a torn ligament in his right elbow. He will travel Saturday to the West Coast for a second opinion, but the 22-year-old right-hander has accepted the fact that he will need the ligament replacement operation that requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.