In the world of sports, particularly baseball, certain names become synonymous with pivotal moments or groundbreaking advancements. Tommy John is one such name, not just for his pitching prowess, but for his unlikely connection to a revolutionary surgical procedure that has reshaped athletic careers across various sports: Tommy John Surgery.
Nearly fifty years ago, on September 25, 1974, Dr. Frank Jobe at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital performed a pioneering operation on then-Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John. Jobe reconstructed John’s torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow, a career-threatening injury at the time. This innovative procedure, now famously known as Tommy John surgery, not only saved John’s career, allowing him to pitch for another 14 seasons, but also opened doors for countless athletes facing similar injuries.
“I wouldn’t still be standing here if it weren’t for a surgery like this,” reflects Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech, highlighting the profound impact of the procedure. “It’s doubled the length of my career.” Tommy John surgery, alongside arthroscopic surgery and ACL reconstruction, stands as a monumental leap in sports medicine, especially for overhead athletes.
From Polio Treatment to Baseball Diamond: The Genesis of Tommy John Surgery
The brilliance of Tommy John surgery lies in its innovative adaptation of existing medical techniques. Dr. Frank Jobe, drawing from his experience with tendon transfers used to treat polio patients at Rancho Los Amigos, ingeniously applied the same principle to repair Tommy John’s elbow.
The procedure involved harvesting the palmaris longus tendon from John’s right forearm. Dr. Jobe then drilled four holes into John’s left elbow bones and meticulously wove the harvested tendon to replace the ruptured UCL. As Dr. Jobe himself explained in 2013, “It wasn’t a new idea, it was just new for the elbow.” This groundbreaking application of tendon transfer to the elbow joint marked a turning point in sports medicine.
While the fundamental technique of Tommy John surgery remains remarkably consistent with Dr. Jobe’s original 1974 operation, advancements have been made over the years. Modern refinements focus on precise ulnar nerve protection, minimizing scar tissue formation, ensuring accurate ligament placement, and achieving optimal graft tension. These enhancements have contributed to the procedure’s increased success rates and improved patient outcomes.
A Half-Century of Impact: Tommy John Surgery and the Modern Athlete
The evolution of Tommy John surgery, coupled with the enhanced physical conditioning and training methodologies in modern sports, has dramatically impacted athletes’ careers. We see the tangible results in the remarkable comebacks of elite athletes across baseball.
Justin Verlander’s Cy Young Award win in 2022, just two years post-Tommy John surgery, stands as a testament to the procedure’s effectiveness. Michael Kopech, who underwent the surgery in 2018, showcases its impact on performance, consistently hitting impressive fastball speeds. Tyler Glasnow of the Dodgers, after his 2021 Tommy John surgery, achieved a career-high strikeout season. Even Bryce Harper, a position player, swiftly returned to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup after undergoing the procedure in November 2022.
Perhaps the most striking example is Shohei Ohtani. His record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed shortly after his second Tommy John surgery, underscores the unwavering faith teams have in the procedure’s ability to restore and extend the careers of even the most valuable players.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, head team physician for the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams, aptly summarizes the economic impact: “If you put it in dollars and cents, I think there’s no question that Tommy John is the most valuable reconstructive procedure there is.”
The Road Back: Rehabilitation and Recovery After Tommy John Surgery
Despite the high success rates, Tommy John surgery is followed by a rigorous and lengthy rehabilitation process. Often described as monotonous and demanding, the rehab is crucial for a successful return to play.
Immediately following surgery, the arm is immobilized in a cast at a 90-degree angle for approximately ten days. Once the cast is removed and the initial healing phase is complete, the focus shifts to regaining range of motion. This phase can take several months before athletes even begin throwing again.
For baseball players, the return to pitching from the mound typically takes at least a year, often longer for a full return to pre-injury form and competitive play at the major league level. Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin, who underwent Tommy John surgery, recalls his first throwing session post-surgery: “It was like 30 throws, nice and easy, and just felt super foreign, like I’d never thrown before… Took some video on it, and they did not look pretty at all.” This illustrates the significant neuromuscular re-education required during the rehabilitation process.
Beyond Baseball: The Expanding Reach of Tommy John Surgery
While inextricably linked to baseball, Tommy John surgery’s impact extends far beyond the diamond. The procedure is now commonly performed on athletes in various overhead sports, including volleyball, tennis, and even football quarterbacks, who are also susceptible to UCL injuries. The principles pioneered by Dr. Jobe have become a cornerstone of modern sports medicine for treating elbow ligament injuries in a wide range of athletes.
A Legacy of Second Chances
Tommy John surgery stands as a testament to medical innovation and its profound impact on human potential. It has not only extended careers and allowed athletes to return to peak performance but has also given countless individuals a “second opportunity,” as Tony Gonsolin describes it, to pursue their athletic passions.
The procedure is a source of immense pride and a lasting legacy for Dr. Frank Jobe. As Dr. ElAttrache recounts, at an event honoring Dr. Jobe, he remarked to Sandy Koufax, whose career was cut short by elbow pain, “Sandy, the only bittersweet part of this, I wish I would have been smart enough to think of this a few years earlier. You would have been pitching a lot longer.” Tommy John surgery is more than just a medical procedure; it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and the ever-evolving possibilities in sports medicine.
