Clinical Outcomes of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Internal Brace Versus Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Competitive Athletes

Background: The increasing prevalence of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, particularly in young athletes, necessitates optimization of treatment options. The introduction of UCL repair with internal bracing offers an exciting alternative to traditional UCL reconstruction. Purpose: To compare midterm outcomes between UCL repair with internal bracing and UCL reconstruction in competitive athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The authors identified competitive athletes who underwent primary UCL repair with internal bracing or UCL reconstruction between 2013 and 2021 and were at least 2 years postsurgery. To have qualified for repair, patients must have shown complete or partial UCL avulsion from the sublime tubercle or medial epicondyle. Relevant patient, injury, operative, and revision surgery data were collected via chart review. Preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Elbow assessment form (ASES-E), Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow (KJOC), and Andrews-Carson scores were obtained from an ongoing data repository. ASES-E, KJOC, and Andrews-Carson scores, and return-to-sport (RTS) data were collected at follow-up. Linear regression modeling controlling for relevant covariates was utilized to compare patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores between groups. Proportions of athletes who successfully returned to sport and proportions of subsequent revision procedures between groups were compared using chi-square tests. Lastly, for those with baseline questionnaire data, the authors compared magnitude of change between preoperative and postoperative scores between groups using linear regression modeling with baseline scores and follow-up time as the covariates, and follow-up scores as the dependent variable. Results: A total of 461 athletes were eligible for inclusion with complete clinical and outcome data available (mean age at surgery, 19.1 years; 92% male). The UCL repair group had a significantly shorter follow-up time than the UCL reconstruction group (4.4 vs 6.3 years; P < .01). When controlling for follow-up time, the groups did not differ in ASES-E, KJOC, or Andrews-Carson scores at follow-up. There was no significant difference in proportion of revisions between UCL repair (9%) and UCL reconstruction (8%) ( P = .77). Of the 268 athletes with complete follow-up in the repair group, 247 attempted to return to their preinjury sport, and 241 (98%) were able to RTS. Six athletes reported that they were unable to RTS due to limitations from their surgery. Of the 155 athletes with follow-up in the reconstruction group, 147 attempted to return to their preinjury sport; 145 (99%) were able to successfully RTS, and 2 were unable to return due to limitations from their surgery. The 2 groups, repair with internal brace versus reconstruction, did not statistically differ in the proportions that returned to preinjury sport ( P = .20) but did differ regarding time in months to return to practice (6.7 ± 3.5 vs 10.2 ± 11.7) ( P < .01) and time in months to return to competition (9.2 ± 4.6 vs 13.4 ± 13.3) ( P < .01). Conclusion: Athletes who underwent UCL repair with internal brace reported excellent midterm PROs statistically similar to those after UCL reconstruction, including proportion successfully returning to preinjury sport. There was no significant difference in revision rates between procedures. However, athletes who underwent UCL repair had a statistically significantly shorter time to RTS.