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Mini-Incision Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Elbow

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MIS Techniques in Orthopedics

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Abstract

The anterior bundle of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the elbow is the primary restraint to valgus load. It has been well documented that baseball pitchers are prone to injury of this structure secondary to the repetitive valgus loads subjected to the elbow with overhead pitching.1–4 Although originally described in javelin throwers,5 this injury is now almost exclusively seen in throwing athletes with baseball pitchers being the most prevalent patients (Figure 5.1). In addition to these athletes, injury to the MCL has also been shown in wrestlers, tennis players, professional football players, and arm wrestlers.1, 5–7 Symptomatic valgus instability can arise in these athletes after injury to the MCL, thus necessitating operative intervention. Although injury to the medial collateral ligament in the nonthrowing athlete can have excellent results with nonoperative intervention,8,9 the overhead throwing athlete may find an injury to the medial collateral ligament of the elbow to be a career-ending event if surgical intervention is not employed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Steven J. Thornton MD (Attending Surgeon)

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Andrew Willis MD (Fellow)

  3. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    David W. Altchek MD (Associate Professor of Surgery (Orthopedics), Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon)

  4. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    David W. Altchek MD (Associate Professor of Surgery (Orthopedics), Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon)

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  1. Steven J. Thornton MD
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  2. Andrew Willis MD
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  3. David W. Altchek MD
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© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

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Thornton, S.J., Willis, A., Altchek, D.W. (2006). Mini-Incision Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Elbow. In: MIS Techniques in Orthopedics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29300-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29300-4_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-24210-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-29300-4

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