From September 1974 to December 1987, 71 patients were operated on for valgus instability of the elbow. The average length of follow-up of 68 patients (70 operations) was 6.3 years (range, 2 to 15 years). At the operation, a torn or incompetent ulnar collateral ligament was found. 14 patients had a direct repair of the ligament, and 56 had a reconstruction of the ligament using a free tendon graft. The result was excellent or good in 10 patients in the repair group and in 45 (80 per cent) in the reconstruction group. 7 of the 14 patients who had a direct repair returned to the previous level of participation in their sport. Of the 56 who had a reconstruction, 38 (68 per cent) returned to the previous level of participation. 12 of the 16 major-league baseball players who had a reconstruction as the primary operation (no previous operation on the elbow) were able to return to playing major-league baseball, and 2 of the 7 major-league players who had a direct repair returned to playing major-league baseball. Previous operations on the elbow decreased the chance of returning to the previous level of sports participation (p = 0.04). 15 patients had postoperative ulnar neuropathy. This was transient in 6 patients, only one of whom was unable to return to the previous level of sport. The other 9 patients had an additional operation for the neuropathy; 4 were able to return to the previous level of sport.
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From September 1974 to December 1987, 71 patients were operated on for valgus instability of the elbow. The average length of follow-up of 68 patients (70 operations) was 6.3 years (range, 2 to 15 years). At the operation, a torn or incompetent ulnar collateral ligament was found. 14 patients had a direct repair of the ligament, and 56 had a reconstruction of the ligament using a free tendon graft. The result was excellent or good in 10 patients in the repair group and in 45 (80 per cent) in the reconstruction group. 7 of the 14 patients who had a direct repair returned to the previous level of participation in their sport. Of the 56 who had a reconstruction, 38 (68 per cent) returned to the previous level of participation. 12 of the 16 major-league baseball players who had a reconstruction as the primary operation (no previous operation on the elbow) were able to return to playing major-league baseball, and 2 of the 7 major-league players who had a direct repair returned to playing major-league baseball. Previous operations on the elbow decreased the chance of returning to the previous level of sports participation (p = 0.04). 15 patients had postoperative ulnar neuropathy. This was transient in 6 patients, only one of whom was unable to return to the previous level of sport. The other 9 patients had an additional operation for the neuropathy; 4 were able to return to the previous level of sport.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.