UCL Sports Injury: Michael's Story

Elbow Surgery | Michael's Story

College athlete Michael Perry was a young and healthy offensive lineman until he was knocked over on his elbow after practice one day. Michael immediately knew something was wrong since his elbow was radiating with pain. A Johns Hopkins elbow specialist diagnosed Michael and discovered how serious his injury was. He had severe elbow ligament and muscle damage, including a rupture of the brachialis muscle and a full tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) — crucial tissues that control the function of an elbow. The specialist recommended UCL reconstruction surgery, which they performed by using some of Michael’s own tendons. This gave the young athlete essentially the same elbow anatomy he had before his injury. Only four weeks after his elbow surgery, Michael regained his range of motion and looks forward to getting back to playing sports.

Learn more about ulnar collateral ligament injuries. 

Johns Hopkins Sports Medicine

Our sports medicine experts are here to help injured athletes of all ages get back in action. We treat a range of sports-related conditions such as ACL tears and rotator cuff injuries, with the focus on helping you return to your sport safely.