Abstract
Ulnar nerve injuries are not uncommon among throwing athletes. The anatomy of the ulnar nerve and the course in which it travels through the upper extremity make it susceptible to injury, especially when the elbow is loaded in the extremes that come with throwing sports such as baseball pitching. In addition to occurring in isolation, ulnar nerve symptoms may present in patients with ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) insufficiency. Postoperative ulnar nerve dysfunction is the most commonly cited complication after reconstructive surgery. This can be attributed to the fact that the ulnar nerve is in close proximity to the native ulnar collateral ligament and is at risk for injury during surgery. To identify and protect the nerve, Jobe in his original description of the procedure, dissected out the nerve from the cubital tunnel and then transposed the nerve anteriorly in a submuscular fashion after the reconstruction was performed. However, the dissection and transposition itself may also present a risk for postoperative ulnar neuropathy. In light of this, Jobe’s original surgical technique which has undergone several modifications in the surgical approach to the UCL and handling of the ulnar nerve, which has improved the postsurgical complication rate.
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Gee, A., Angeline, M., Dines, J., Altchek, D. (2015). Ulnar Nerve Issues in Throwing Athletes. In: Dines, J., Altchek, D. (eds) Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7540-9_21
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