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Tommy John surgery, or ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction or “dead arm injury”, is a surgery to treat an elbow related injury that is common in throwing sports. A very common sport for this injury is baseball, specifically among pitchers. The name Tommy John Surgery comes from the major league baseball pitcher Tommy John who was the first to have this surgery which has become common in today's time. In this surgery, the ligament on the inside of the elbow is reconstructed, which connects the humerus and the ulna, and provides stability in the arm. To learn more about Tommy John Surgery and how it can help you, reach out to us at Virtual Physical Therapy NYC for virtual physical therapy Bronx and see what we can do for you!

Symptoms of a UCL Injury

There are a few symptoms that come from this “dead arm injury”. Before the actual tearing and injury to the ligament, you may be sore in the area indicating a high amount of pressure and strain in the area. When the ulnar ligament actually gets injured and tears, you may hear an audible noise, reported commonly as a popping noise. After you tear this ligament you will lose most of your functionality and mobility in the arm and elbow. Some other symptoms that come from tearing this ligament include:

• Weakness in the hands
• A bruise on and around the inside of the elbow
• Swelling and stiffness in the area, making moving and straightening your arm difficult
• Tingling in the hands and fingers

Causes for Tommy John Surgery

The most common causes of injuries that lead you to require this surgery are repeated stress conditions. The stress of repeated throwing actions can cause microtears in the ligament. These small tears in the area can add up and cause a ligament rupture to tear the ligament from your body. This type of injury is common in adolescent athletes that compete in a throwing related sport. In some rare conditions, falling or taking a traumatic injury to the area can also cause injury. Thankfully, around 90% of injuries such as these are completely recoverable and many patients report returning to full strength in the arm, and in some cases, with the proper rehabilitation and care, an increase in performance can take place after recovery. To help manage your UCL injury and recover from your Tommy John Surgery, contact us at Virtual Physical Therapy NYC for virtual physical therapy Bronx and see what we can do for you.

Before assigning a surgery, your doctor may suggest less invasive procedures first. Generally, these entail rehabilitation exercises, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. This may help overcome minor injuries while improving strength, range of motion, and technique in patients. If these are ineffective, then a less invasive form of surgery may be prescribed first, and arthroscopically performed. This type of surgery uses only a small incision to insert a camera-equipped tool that can repair smaller issues, remove dead tissues, and smooth out any problems in the area. 

How Can Virtual Physical Therapy Bronx Help?

If your injury is more advanced or would require more in-depth and specific care, a more involved and advanced open incision surgery may be suggested. This more involved surgery would be required if the ligament is completely torn and pulled away from the bone. In some cases, a replacement ligament may be needed to be inserted and attached if the existing ligament is beyond repair. To see your options and evaluate your injury, reach out to us at Virtual Physical Therapy NYC for virtual physical therapy Bronx. 

This surgery comes with all the risks involved with many other surgeries. There are risks of infections and complications due to anesthesia as with any surgery. Additionally, there is a low risk of damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the area around the surgery. If you need a replacement tendon the new tendon may stretch and tear where it is attached to the bone, needing further surgery. You will also be prescribed physical therapy and some pain medications to help recover from the surgery. 

Reach out to Virtual PT NYC

These therapies will help regain strength and accommodate the ligament, repaired or replaced, to your body. This can help you come back into full strength and range of motion, and in some cases, you might feel stronger and perform better after full recovery. Before any surgery, it is always wise to talk to your doctor about your injury and what the best options are for you. To learn more about your options, visit our website, or talk to our doctors at Virtual Physical Therapy NYC for virtual physical therapy Bronx.