APEX Shoulder Mastering Surgical Techniques for Clinical Success-Combined Shoulder and Elbow Session: Overhead Throwing Athlete

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The discussion centers on elbow injuries in young athletes, particularly medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries and posterior labral tears common in throwers and batters. In a 12-year-old softball player with persistent medial elbow pain and calcification, a nonoperative approach initially failed; a suture bridge surgical repair with an internal brace was successful, preserving growth plates and allowing return to sport. For acute UCL tears in adolescent combat athletes like wrestlers, early repair is favored due to instability risks and inability to brace. In baseball players like a 22-year-old first baseman with posterior labral "batter's shoulder," surgical repair provides 85-90% success with return to play in 5-6 months, though nonoperative treatment may be attempted in season. For javelin throwers with UCL tears, repair plus internal brace is a time-sensitive option to preserve collegiate competition. Panelists emphasize individualized tensioning during repair, avoiding overtightening, and the critical role of holistic care addressing kinetic chain deficits—particularly hip and shoulder function—in injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Asset Caption

Moderator: Brian Waterman, M.D., Scott P. Steinmann, M.D.
Panel: Michael O’Brien, M.D., Anthony Razzano, Jr., D.O., S. Joshua Szabo, M.D.

Keywords

elbow injuries

medial ulnar collateral ligament

posterior labral tears

suture bridge surgical repair

internal brace

kinetic chain rehabilitation