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Elite pitchers likely to have biological changes in ulnar collateral ligament of dominant arm
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The use of stress sonography helps to detect anatomic changes in the ulnar collateral ligament in elite baseball pitchers, according to recently published data.
“We were unable to determine if these abnormalities are directly associated with the risk of future [ulnar collateral ligament] UCL injuries because of the low number of UCL reconstructions performed over the 10-year study period. “With continued longitudinal surveillance, we hope to precisely define the risk factors for future UCL injuries in stress ultrasound in this athletic population,” Michael G. Ciccotti, MD, and colleagues, stated in the study.
In the study, 368 asymptomatic professional baseball pitchers received an annual preseason stress ultrasound at 30° of flexion at rest and with 150 N of valgus stress in both elbows. Researchers observed ligament thickness, ulnohumeral joint space width and ligament abnormalities.
They found mean UCL thickness in the dominant elbow (6.15 mm) was significantly greater than the mean thickness in the opposing elbow (4.82 mm). The mean space width of the stressed ulnohumeral joint in the dominant elbow was also greater than the space width in the nondominant elbow (4.56 mm and 3.72 mm, respectively). In the dominant elbow, stress ultrasound indicated that ligament abnormalities, such as hypoechoic foci and calcifications, were more prevalent than in the opposing arm. Additionally, the researchers found increased laxity with valgus over time in the UCL in the dominant elbow. — by Christian Ingram
Disclosures: Sonosite Corporation donated the ultrasound equipment used in this study.
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