An increasing number of adolescents are undergoing ulnar lateral ligament (UCL) surgery to repair a pitching-related elbow injury, according to a study published online ahead of print in the March issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Analyzing a database of all ambulatory discharges in New York state, researchers found that 444 patients underwent surgery to repair their UCL between 2002 and 2011. The median age of study participants was 21; most were male.
The total volume of UCL surgeries increased nearly 200% during that time, while the number of UCL reconstructions per 100,000 people tripled from 0.15 to 0.45. Almost all of the growth occurred in two age groups, 17- to 18-year-olds and 19- to 20-year-olds. Patients who had private insurance were 25 times more likely to undergo UCL construction than those with Medicaid.