Surgery risks, recovery

Named after former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, the reconstructive elbow surgery became famous in 1974 when John damaged his UCL in the middle of a great 13 - 3 season.  With no options available and desperate to keep playing baseball, John approached Dr. Frank Jobe an orthopedic surgeon and special advisor to the Dodgers begging him to come up with a surgery to save his pitching arm.

Jobe eventually figured out a way to replace John's injured UCL with a tendon graft from his forearm.  Once John underwent the surgery and fully recovered, he returned to baseball in 1976, ultimately winning more games after his surgery than before.

According to Ahmad, because of John and others like him who have had successful careers post-UCL reconstruction, student athletes are starting to get the wrong idea about Tommy John surgery.  In a recent study published