Operative Treatment of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Insufficiency of the Elbow in Female Athletes
- 1 March 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 34 (3), 431-437
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546505281240
Abstract
As women become more involved in athletic activity, injuries specific to this population also increase. No data exist regarding operative treatment of female patients with elbow instability secondary to ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency. Women with symptomatically unstable elbows who failed nonoperative treatment will improve after surgical intervention. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Nineteen women were retrospectively evaluated using the Andrews and Carson Elbow Outcome Score. Patients were included if they underwent repair or reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament for symptomatic instability that precluded them from participation in their desired sport or activities, despite nonoperative treatment. The mean age was 22.0 years (range, 15.1-37.2 years). The mean follow-up was 38.8 months (range, 12.4-68.6 months). Of the 19 patients, 14 were softball players, gymnasts, and tennis players. Only 1 was a pitcher. Eighteen women underwent repair by one of the following procedures: plication (n = 6), repair to bone using anchors (n = 11), or drill holes (n = 1). One patient underwent a palmaris graft reconstruction. The mean overall preoperative outcome score of 120 improved to 191 postoperatively (P< .0001). Seventeen of 18 athletes were able to return to their sport at a mean of 2.5 months postoperatively. One patient did not participate in athletics. This study demonstrated excellent overall results in 16 and good results in 3 female patients after medial elbow repair or reconstruction. Women appear to be able to consistently return to a high level of function after repair or reconstruction for medial elbow instability.This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluation of the Arthroscopic Valgus Instability Test of the ElbowThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1996
- Histology and Arthroscopic Anatomy of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the ElbowThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1994
- Arthroscopic Treatment of Posttraumatic Elbow Pain and StiffnessThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1994
- Valgus Stability of the ElbowClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1991
- Experimental Elbow Instability After Transection of the Medial Collateral LigamentClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1987
- Functional Anatomy of the Ligaments of the ElbowClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1985
- Articular and ligamentous contributions to the stability of the elbow jointThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1983
- The throw: biomechanics and acute injuryThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1980
- The Role of the Medial Collateral LigamentClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1980
- An analysis of 100 symptomatic baseball playersThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1978