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Similar return-to-sport, performance seen with hamstring vs palmaris autograft for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction
Despite similar rates of return to sport and performance after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, baseball players reconstructed with hamstring autograft had a greater risk for subsequent lower extremity injuries, while patients who had the procedure with palmaris autograft sustained more upper extremity injuries.
Researchers identified 195 professional baseball players who underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) with hamstring autograft. Investigators compared players who had the procedure with hamstring autograft to a matched group of players who underwent UCLR with palmaris autograft. Groups were compared for return-to-sport rate, performance and the future injury rate. Any injuries sustained by the players were recorded.
Results showed patients who underwent UCLR with hamstring vs. palmaris autograft were not different with regard to return-to-sport rates and timing of return-to-sport. The hamstring autograft group had a greater chance of sustaining a subsequent lower extremity injury compared with the palmaris group, with 25 injuries vs. 13 injuries, respectively. Players who underwent surgery with the palmaris autograft compared with players who underwent surgery with hamstring autograft had more subsequent injuries to the upper extremity, with 73 injuries vs. 55 injuries, respectively. There were no differences seen between the groups with regard to performance metrics after return to sport; however, players from both groups saw significant reduction in performance metrics after surgery.
Overall, players from the hamstring autograft and palmaris autograft groups demonstrated a decrease postoperatively from baseline for wins above replacement (0.86 vs. 0.35 and 1.23 vs .0.34, respectively) and walks plus hits/innings pitched (1.33 vs. 1.44 and 1.36 vs. 1.51, respectively). There was no decrease in fielding independent pitching. Groups were not significantly different after surgery with regard to wins above replacement, walks plus hits/innings pitched and fielding independent pitching. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Erickson reports research support from DePuy and Smith & Nephew. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.