Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injuries of the Elbow

The ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow is most often injured by repeated stress from overhead move. This motion is common in sports that involve throwing, such as baseball and javelin.

What You Need to Know

  • The well-nigh common UCL injury is a UCL tear that is normally gradual but may as well happen in a single traumatic event.
  • Hurting on the inner side of the elbow is the most common symptom of a UCL injury. A UCL tear may sometimes experience like a "popular" after throwing followed past intense pain.
  • UCL injuries are diagnosed by physical examination and a valgus stress examination to assess instability of the elbow. An MRI scan or may also exist taken.
  • Handling for UCL injuries ranges from rest and physical therapy to surgery, depending on the extent of the UCL tear and your health goals.

What is the ulnar collateral ligament?

Ligaments are stiff bands of tissue that hold bones together and aid control the motion of joints. A ligament serves as a tether between the bones. When the ligament is torn, the tether is too long and the bones move too much. This can pb to pain, a sense of instability or looseness, and an inability to work or play sports.

The ulnar collateral ligament complex is located on the inside of the elbow (pinky or medial side). It is attached on i side to the humerus (the bone of the upper arm) and on the other side to the ulna (a bone in the forearm). A UCL consists of 3 bands or divisions: the anterior (front), posterior (back) and transverse (across) bands. The anterior band is the nearly important for the elbow'due south stability of the elbow.

How practice UCL injuries happen?

UCL Tears From Overuse

The UCL tin can be injured in several ways. Nigh commonly, there is a gradual onset of elbow pain due to repetitive stresses on the ligament. This is peculiarly common in athletes who play sports that require overhead arm use or throwing.

UCL Injuries in Children

Children, specially baseball game pitchers under age xv, may develop UCL tears from repeated stress. It is of import to think that hurting when throwing is not normal for young children. It should be addressed immediately to forestall further injury.

A UCL tear shouldn't be confused with Little League elbow — another overuse injury common in young baseball game players. This is an injury to the growth plates on the ends of the basic forming the elbow joint.

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Traumatic UCL Injuries

The ulnar collateral ligament may also be injured if you autumn on your outstretched arm. In this case, the UCL may rupture or get pulled off the humerus, chipping a small piece of bone. This is chosen an avulsion fracture, and it's rare. This type of trauma is sometimes accompanied by elbow dislocation or elbow fracture.

What are the symptoms of a UCL injury?

  • A sudden "pop" or pain along the inside of the elbow, leading to the disability to proceed throwing.
  • Pain on the inside of the elbow subsequently a flow of heavy throwing or other overhead action.
  • Pain when accelerating the arm forward, but prior to releasing a ball.
  • Tingling or numbness in the pinky and ring fingers.

The instability resulting from a UCL tear may affect your ability to participate in sports that require throwing. However, it is unlikely to bear upon your daily living activities, such as conveying a bag of groceries. A UCL tear rarely prevents people from exercising, lifting weights, running or performing other nonthrowing activities.

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How are UCL injuries diagnosed?

Diagnosis is often more difficult than the treatment of a UCL injury. These types of injuries are typically diagnosed and treated past an orthopaedic specialist or a sports medicine expert. A UCL tear can be diagnosed through a history and physical examination. A valgus stress test, during which a physician tests your elbow for instability, is the best fashion to appraise the condition of the UCL.

An MRI browse and X-ray may as well be used to see the changes in the ulnar collateral ligament related to stress. However, these tests are rarely used as the sole footing for a diagnosis. Although an MRI scan may show a UCL tear, it may non be 100 percent authentic. Injecting dye (gadolinium) into the articulation before the MRI sometimes increases its accuracy.

How are UCL injuries treated?

The treatment options for a UCL injury depend on your goals. If you want to return to strenuous overhead or throwing activities and nonoperative treatments didn't aid, so your doctor might recommend surgical repair of the torn UCL.

Nonsurgical UCL Treatment

This approach aims to stabilize the elbow and offer pain relief. Information technology may include:

  • Initial catamenia of residuum.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.
  • Applying water ice to the elbow daily until the hurting and swelling are gone.
  • After inflammation has decreased, you lot may brainstorm physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the elbow to compensate for the torn ligament.

UCL Reconstruction (Tommy John Surgery)

Tommy John Surgery uses a tendon taken from somewhere else in the body, or from a donor, to serve equally the new UCL. Tunnels are drilled in the ulna and humerus to secure the new tendon (graft). Remnants of the original ligament may be fastened to the graft to strengthen it.

How long does recovery after a UCL injury take?

If your UCL tear can be treated without surgery, the recovery may last anywhere from several weeks to several months. It depends on the range of motion you'd similar to attain in the elbow. Your physician and physical therapist will work together to monitor your progress.

If Tommy John Surgery is recommended, the rehabilitation can take ix months to a year, and sometimes longer. Your elbow will be placed in a hinged brace to gradually increment the range of motion until you can fully extend it. If you program to return to throwing and compete, yous volition need physical therapy that is more rigorous to strengthen your elbow plenty to handle the stress. Everyone recovers at a different speed, but the return to your sport should never exist rushed. Too much stress on the graft before information technology has healed increases the risk of failure.