Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in javelin throwers: an analysis of return to play rates and patient outcomes.

Background: Although results after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) in baseball players have been well documented, the literature is replete regarding the outcomes after UCLR in javelin throwers.

Purpose: To report outcomes after UCLR in javelin throwers.

Hypothesis: UCLR in javelin throwers will result in a high rate of return to play similar to that of previously published studies from athletes of other sports.

Methods: All patients who were identified preoperatively as javelin throwers and underwent UCLR between 2011 and 2017 with a minimum 2-year follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Patients were assessed with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow score, Timmerman-Andrews Elbow score, Conway-Jobe score, patient satisfaction, return to sport rate questionnaire, and the occurrence of any postoperative complications.

Results: Eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria. Complete follow-up was available in 16 (88.9%) patients. The average age at surgery was 21.2 ± 2.0 (range, 18.6-24.9) years. At the final follow-up, the average Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow score and Timmerman-Andrews Elbow score were 77.3 (range, 18.7-98.4) and 91.8 (range, 70.0-100.0), respectively. Outcomes on the Conway-Jobe scale were as follows: excellent (n = 6; 37.5%), good (n = 4; 25%), fair (n = 6; 37.5%). Ten (62.5%) patients returned to play at an average of 12.2 ± 3.6 (range, 6.0-18.0) months after surgery. Two (12.5%) patients sustained a shoulder injury postoperatively; however, neither required surgery.

Conclusion: UCLR in javelin throwers results in good outcomes with a low rate of reinjury/reoperation. However, the return to play rate (62.5%) and good/excellent outcomes per the Conway-Jobe scale (68.8%) are lower than what has been previously reported in baseball players and javelin throwers. Further investigation regarding outcomes in javelin throwers after UCLR is warranted.