UCL Reconstruction

Because the elbow bears a lot of force during daily activities such as lifting, throwing, or pushing, it can sometimes suffer injuries that are serious and need surgical intervention. This is especially true for athletes like baseball players, who consistently throw and hit at high speeds. One of the more common surgical procedures done on the elbow today is known as the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, or UCLR. Dr. Richards is able to perform UCL reconstruction and elbow tear surgery in Ogden.

Ligaments are the tough tissues that connect bones to other bones, and are often found surrounding joint capsules. These are vital structures for the function and integrity of the joint, and are difficult to heal if they have been damaged. However, thanks to modern surgical technology, the UCL can be repaired, and many people are able to return to activities afterwards. If you have had a UCL tear, consider scheduling a procedure for elbow tear surgery at our Ogden office. Using a combination of arthroscopic techniques, grafts from the patient’s own tissue, and comprehensive post-procedure rehabilitation, we insure most people recover from UCLR quite well, and are saved from a lifetime of elbow pain and restriction.

The UCL is positioned along the inside area of the elbow, and is made up of three different sections of ligament tissue, which keep the elbow joint stable. It runs from the bottom edge of the humerus (large bone in the upper arm) to the top edge of the ulna (one of the two bones in the forearm), creating the inner part of the elbow joint. Doing activities like overhand throwing (like in baseball) or repetitive motions can tear or wear down the UCL, and surgery is the most common treatment option, since ligaments do not tend to heal on their own.

If you are suffering from pain in the inner elbow, lack of range of motion in the elbow joint, swelling of the inner elbow, elbow joint instability, or other troubling symptoms, reach out to your local Ogden elbow doctor right away about UCL reconstruction. Injury prevention and/or early detection of injury is key to healing from UCL, and living the rest of your life with mobility and ease.