Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. David Altchek is a world-renowned attending surgeon and Co-Chief Emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Dr. Altchek has spent over three decades repairing damaged shoulders, elbows, and knees, and provides a broad range of Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons.

The son of an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Altchek got a glimpse of the profession at an early age. He graduated from New York’s Weill Cornell Medical College in 1982 and completed his residency and fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

David Altchek, MD., has extensive experience in upper arm and shoulder surgery. Known for providing outstanding sports medicine care, Dr. Altchek is the medical director for the New York Mets and serves as a medical consultant for the NBA. Dr. Altchek also served as the North American Medical Director for the Association of Tennis Professionals, and was the Team Physician for the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team. Dr. Altchek is also a Professor of Surgery in Clinical Orthopaedics at the Weill Cornell Medical College and has written over 100 articles and book chapters on problems of the shoulder, elbow, and knee problems.

Tommy John Surgery: Procedure and Recovery

If you’re an athlete with a UCL injury and need the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons, look no further than David Altchek, MD. As a leading orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports-related injuries, Dr. Altchek has the expertise and experience to guide you through surgery and recovery. He takes a personalized approach to treatment, creating a plan tailored to your needs and goals. With the latest surgical techniques and advanced technologies, Dr. Altchek can help you get back on your feet, and to the activities you love as quickly and safely as possible.

What is Tommy John Surgery?

Tommy John surgery, also known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a surgical procedure that repairs a torn UCL in the elbow. Tommy John surgery procedure is commonly performed on athletes who throw overhead, such as baseball players, but can also be used for other sports and activities. During the surgery, the damaged ligament is replaced with a graft from another part of the patient’s body or a donor. The recovery process typically takes several months and includes physical therapy to help restore strength and mobility to the elbow.

Benefits From The Tommy John Surgery?

Here are some benefits of this procedure:

Improved stability and strength in the elbow joint
Enhanced performance for athletes who rely on overhead throwing motions
Reduced pain and discomfort in the elbow
Faster recovery time compared to non-surgical treatments
Decreased risk of re-injury

Dr. David Altchek the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons and can help determine if this procedure is right for you, with personalized care and cutting-edge surgical techniques.

Contact David Altchek Today!

Whether you need a consultation, surgery, or recovery plan, Dr. Altchek and his team are here to help you get back in the game. David Altchek, MD, is a highly skilled Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons who can provide Tommy John surgery and other sports-related injuries. He offers personalized care and cutting-edge surgical techniques to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient. Contact Dr. Altchek today for expert guidance and treatment of your UCL injury. Click here to learn more!

Contact The Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons

Symptoms of Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injuries

Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons

An injury to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament or UCL can be a serious injury for athletes and anyone in general. An injury to the UCL is an elbow injury typically caused by an overhead throwing motion. Athletes, mainly baseball pitchers, are the most prone to a UCL injury, this is due to the constant overuse of one elbow. With pitchers especially, if they do not receive the correct amount of rest, they are risking an injury to their UCL. Getting the highest quality treatment is essential in the recovery process, especially for athletes who want to get back to playing the sport they love. A UCL injury may be a career-changing injury for some athletes depending on the severity, that’s why Dr. David Altchek is here to help as the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons has to offer. By visiting Dr. David Altchek, you’re making the correct decision and ensuring you’ll be back to doing what you love as soon as possible.

Defining the Severity of a UCL Injury

Assessing the severity of the injury is essential when it comes to UCL injuries. This is important in both the recovery time and recovery process of the injury. An injury to the UCL may require an extensive period of recovery if surgery is required. Surgical reconstruction is typically the standard form of care for a UCL injury, however, if the injury is maybe not as severe or the patient can recover without surgery then other options may be assessed. Dr. David Altchek will provide the direction for your specific injury and recovery process. As the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons has, Dr. David Altchek will ensure you’ll be put in the right direction toward getting your quality of life back! To learn more about your journey, visit our website or contact us today!

What Should You Know About a UCL Injury?

Assessing your UCL injury is essential in processing your recovery time and process. That’s why Dr. David Altchek is here to help assess your injury and provide the consultation you’re seeking to get you on track for the ideal recovery. Firstly, it’s important to note, depending on the severity of the injury and the scenario of the patient, rest, physical therapy, or surgery will be appointed. Also, many UCL injuries do not occur due to one specific event, the injury usually happens over time and the tear gradually gets worse. You’ll notice an injury when you hear a popping sound or sensation in your elbow when performing an overhead throw. Seeking the highest quality Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons has to offer is the first step in your evaluation process. From there you will know and understand the journey ahead of you, visit our website today to get started!

Symptoms of a UCL Injury

The UCL is a ligament or band of tissue that holds bones together to control joint movement and ensure stability. The UCL holds together the forearm and upper arm to help create the elbow joint and stabilize and promote the pivoting of the arm as a whole. When there is a tear in the UCL, the ligament cannot operate properly, leading to excessive movement of the bones with little stability. This is typically accompanied by a sense of pain and looseness within the elbow. The pain is usually caused during usage of the elbow joint and will most likely cause the inability to play sports due to the severity of pain and instability of the arm. If you’re experiencing possible symptoms of a UCL tear, visit Dr. David Altchek or our website to schedule an appointment with the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons offers.

Contact Dr. David Altchek for Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons

As an athlete, an injury can be the most frustrating part of your career. Don’t allow one injury to define you, get the treatment you deserve with Dr. David Altchek. By taking the first step and contacting your Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons, you’re making one of the most important decisions of your athletic career. Dr. David Altchek specializes in getting you back to doing what you love and has extensive experience in the treatment of athletes and all patients. Guarantee the quality recovery process you deserve, contact us or visit our website today to get started!

What is UCL Reconstruction Surgery?

UCL stands for the ulnar collateral ligament. This ligament is in the elbow. This procedure involves a surgeon repairing the injured UCL by replacing it with a tendon taken from another part of the patient’s body. The surgery is commonly done on athletes who are at an increased risk of injuring the UCL ligament in their elbow. Baseball players commonly receive this surgery because of the tension that is put on their elbows. If you have injured your UCL and need surgery, contact Dr. David Altchek for the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons.

What Are The Symptoms of a UCL Injury?

Typically, UCL injuries are common in baseball players. However, there are additional sports where UCL injuries can occur. These sports include:

Javelin throw
Tennis
Gymnastics
Soccer
Football
Wrestling
Cheerleading

If you are an athlete in the sports above, it is important to understand the probable symptoms of a UCL injury. Some of the most common symptoms of UCL injuries are elbow pain and a feeling of instability and looseness in the elbow. Another symptom is irritation of the ulnar nerve, also known as the funny bone. This can turn into numbness or tingling in the ring finger and small finger. These symptoms interfere with throwing or other elbow movements in sports, making it easier to recognize that you may have a UCL tear. Additionally, sometimes UCL tears can cause difficulty during activities besides throwing in sports. These activities include:

Lifting weights
Running
Doing daily activities
Batting (baseball)
Basic exercise

UCL tears can cause lots of difficulty in sports but also activities in our daily lives. Hence, it is important to seek medical help if you suspect a UCL injury. For Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons, contact Dr. David Altchek.

Is Surgery The First Treatment Option?

Typically, UCL injuries are first treated with ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, and rest. Physical therapy can then be used to help strengthen the muscles around the UCL to help ease the muscle into recovery. However, many athletes opt for the UCL reconstruction surgery because it allows them to go back to their sport and have a recovered, strong UCL. The UCL reconstruction surgery can be a first treatment option, especially for athletes who want to go back to throwing in sports and those who don’t respond to rest, ice, and medications. Doctors like David Altchek the Best Sports Orthopedic Surgeons can perform a UCL reconstruction surgery and help his patients get back to throwing at the level they were before their injury.

What Happens During UCL Reconstruction Surgery?

During UCL reconstruction surgery, a tendon is taken from another part of the patient’s body and used to repair the damaged ligament. Some of the body parts that a tendon can be taken from include:

Wrist
Toe
Forearm
Hamstring
Hip
Knee
Foot

The tendon used is also called a graft. A surgeon drills tunnels in the ulna and humerus to reconstruct the damaged ligament. The tendon is placed through the tunnels and is intertwined following a figure-eight pattern with the ligament to reconstruct it. The original ligament is attached to the tendon to stabilize and strengthen it. Although this surgery effectively stabilizes the UCL, complications like damage to the ulnar nerve, hematomas, and infections can happen.

UCL Reconstruction Surgery Recovery Process

It usually takes a year for patients to recover from UCL reconstruction surgery. Rehabilitation is a process, which is why it is typically divided into three phases. Continue reading below for more information on the phases of rehabilitation.

Phase 1:

Total body rehabilitation exercises
Wearing a splint for a week
Simple range of motion exercises for the wrist, shoulder, and hand
Exercises to strengthen the shoulder

Phase 2:

About 6 weeks after surgery
Avoid activities that put excess stress on the UCL and tendon for about 4 months
Practicing elbow strengthening activities

Phase 3 (athletes):

After 4 or 5 months: throw/toss a ball without winding up
After 6 months: practice winding up, but not too fast
After 7 months: for baseball players, pitchers can return to pitching
After 9 months: pitchers can pitch in a game but only if they have no pain and are back to their prior strength level before injury.