Have you ever had major surgery? Not tonsils or outpatient? In my experience , they won’t do any surgery, while there are still other medical viable options left.
Per Google. -
Q - Will a doctor perform Timmy John surgery without ligament damage to the UCL.
A -
No, an orthopedic surgeon will not perform Tommy John surgery if there is no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). [
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Ethical medical guidelines and surgical standards dictate that Tommy John surgery—medically known as UCL reconstruction—is strictly an elective procedure used to treat a structurally compromised or torn ligament. [
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Surgeons will refuse to perform the operation on a healthy UCL for several critical reasons: [
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Lack of Medical Necessity
- Targeted Purpose: Tommy John surgery requires drilling holes into the arm bones (humerus and ulna) to weave in a harvested tendon graft. If the original ligament is fully intact and stable, there is no structural deficit to correct. [1, 2]
- The "Velocity Myth": There is a common misconception among youth players and parents that Tommy John surgery acts as an upgrade that inherently increases throwing velocity. In reality, any post-surgery velocity gains are purely the result of rigorous physical therapy, core strengthening, and corrected throwing mechanics during the 12-to-18 month rehab process.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Serious Surgical Risks
Performing a major, invasive surgery without a diagnosis exposes a patient to unnecessary, career-threatening risks, including:
- Permanent nerve damage or numbness
- Severe joint infection
- Permanent loss of elbow range of motion and stiffness
- Rupture or stretching of the new graft
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