The modified docking procedure for elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction: 2-year follow-up in elite throwers.
BACKGROUND
Ulnar collateral ligament injury is most common in the overhead-throwing athlete. Jobe et al published the first report of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in throwing athletes with a 62.5% success rate. Recently, Altchek developed a new docking technique for reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament. The authors report the first series using a further modification of the docking technique using a 4-strand palmaris longus graft for reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament.


OBJECTIVE
The modified docking technique yields a high rate of successful return to preinjury level of competition in elite baseball players.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed 25 elite professional or scholarship collegiate baseball players who underwent elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using the modified docking procedure with a minimum 2-year follow-up.


RESULTS
Twenty-three of 25 (92%) were able to return to their preinjury levels of competition. The mean time to return was 11.5 months (range, 10-16 months). Complications included 1 transient postoperative ulnar nerve neurapraxia and 1 stress fracture of the ulnar bone bridge that occurred at 14 months postoperatively, after a full return to pitching.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified docking technique yields highly successful return to preinjury level of competition rates (92%) in a select group of elite baseball players.
Paletta
George A
GA
Center for the Athlete's Shoulder and Elbow at the Orthopaedic Center of St Louis, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA.
Wright
Rick W
RW
D000328:Adult; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna; D000092464:Elbow Injuries