Tommy John Surgery

What is Tommy John Surgery?

Tommy John Surgery is a surgical reconstruction of the ulterior collateral ligament (UCL). The surgeon replaces a damaged UCL with a ligament from another part of the body (usually the forearm, hamstring, or foot).

How is Tommy John Surgery used?

Tommy John Surgery is used by pitchers who frequently suffer UCL tears due to the strain of the repeated motion of pitching. Prior to the surgery’s development, this injury was career-ending for pitchers. However, the surgery allows pitchers to return to the game after the procedure and an intensive rehab.

It typically takes around 12 to 15 months for a pitcher to recover from the surgery and return to pitching in the majors, and often pitchers throw even harder than they did before the procedure.

Tommy John Surgery Examples

Tommy John Surgery is named after the pitcher Tommy John, who was the first to receive the procedure in 1974. Dr. Frank Jobe developed the surgery after John tore his UCL. Though doctors initially placed his odds of returning to the majors at 1 in 100, John received the surgery and successfully returned to the majors after 18 months. He pitched for another 13 years as a pro after undergoing the surgery.

In today’s game, Tommy John Surgery is relatively common and routine. Dr. James Andrews is probably the most famous current practitioner of the surgery.

Interesting Tommy John Surgery Cases

One interesting case is John Smoltz. Smoltz underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2000, after many years as a successful starting pitcher. After his return, he was moved to the bullpen, where he notched over 150 saves as a very effective closer. Then, he returned to the rotation and finished his career back as a starter.

In 2015, Smoltz became the first pitcher to win election to the Baseball Hall of Fame after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

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