Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Using the Novel Docking Plus Technique in 324 Athletes.

Background: This retrospective case series examined 324 athletes who received elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction by a single surgeon in a private practice over a 9-year period. The novel Docking Plus technique for elbow UCL reconstruction in 324 athletes provided good or excellent Conway score results in 88% of patients. The preponderance of previous studies examining UCL reconstruction outcomes were performed by surgeons at one of only three institutions (Andrews Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic).

Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Using a 4-Strand Docking Plus Technique.

The "Docking Plus" technique for elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery is described in the following text and video. Depite the general success of UCL surgery, significant rates of retear and failure of return to competition persist. Hypothesized reasons for UCL surgery failure include insufficient graft strength (midsubstance tears), insufficient graft tensioning (functional UCL insufficiency, valgus extension overload), and insufficient healing of graft to bone (proximal avulsions).

Sports Injuries to the Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major.

Injuries to the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles, while rare, are debilitating. They are seen in a variety of sports, although disproportionately in the throwing shoulder of baseball pitchers. There have been 25 case reports and 2 case series published on the nonoperative and operative management of these injuries.

Biomechanical evaluation of the docking plus ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction technique compared with the docking technique.

Background: Surgical techniques for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction have evolved since first described by Jobe. A modified reconstruction technique has been developed, called the docking plus technique, and the authors biomechanically compared it to the commonly performed docking technique.

Hypothesis: The docking plus technique for UCL reconstruction will demonstrate greater ligament stiffness than the docking technique.