IC 308-2022: Management of Ulnar Collteral Ligament Tears: Where Do We Stand in 2022?-Management of Ulnar Collteral Ligament Tears: Where Do We Stand in 2022? (1/5)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Dr. Kevin Wilk discusses ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) repair in 2022. He begins by addressing the increasing number of UCL tears and the impact they have on both professional and younger athletes. He highlights the history of UCL repair and reconstruction techniques, noting that while reconstructions have a higher success rate in terms of returning athletes to their previous level of play, they require longer recovery times compared to repairs.<br /><br />Dr. Wilk introduces the concept of UCL repair with an internal brace, which has shown promising results in terms of patient outcomes and faster recovery times. He discusses the suitability of UCL repair for specific patient profiles, including those with proximal or distal injuries and good tissue quality. He also mentions the importance of imaging, such as MRI and x-rays, in determining the eligibility for UCL repair.<br /><br />The video also touches upon the surgical technique for UCL repair with an internal brace, including the placement of anchors and the involvement of the ulnar nerve. Dr. Wilk emphasizes the need for proper rehabilitation following UCL repair, ensuring full range of motion is achieved by the six-week mark.<br /><br />Dr. Wilk concludes by mentioning ongoing research into improving UCL repair techniques, such as the use of double docking augmentation with an internal brace. He acknowledges that the current data on UCL repair is limited in terms of long-term outcomes but suggests that revising a repair to a reconstruction may be easier than revising a reconstruction. He also provides additional resources for further reading on the topic.

Asset Caption

Brandon Erickson, MD

Keywords

Ulnar collateral ligament

UCL repair

Internal brace

Recovery times

Surgical technique