Shoulder & elbow · UCL reconstruction

Tommy John surgery

Explore UCL reconstruction with Dr. Jason Smith, Consulting Orthopedic Surgeon to the Toronto Blue Jays. Specialist care for throwing and overhead athletes, from assessment through a staged return to sport.

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Featured surgeon

Meet Dr. Jason Smith.

Focused on the throwing athlete.

Fellowship-trained under Dr. James Andrews at the American Sports Medicine Institute.

Toronto Blue Jays · MLBConsulting Orthopedic Surgeon

With the team since 2008

Explore Dr. Smith’s expertise

Also available: Dr. Bashar Alolabi

The procedure

What is Tommy John surgery?

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is located on the inner side of the elbow and is critical for stability during throwing motions. When the UCL is torn — often from repetitive stress in throwing athletes — it can cause pain, instability, and inability to throw at full velocity.

Tommy John surgery reconstructs the damaged UCL using a tendon graft. The graft acts as a scaffold that the body gradually incorporates, restoring elbow stability and throwing function.

Who may need this surgery?

Baseball pitchers with UCL tears
Javelin, tennis, and overhead athletes
Medial elbow pain with throwing
Elbow instability during arm motion

Surgical technique

How UCL reconstruction works.

1

Incision & access

Small incision along inner elbow to access the damaged ligament
2

Graft preparation

Tendon graft from your body or donor is prepared to replace the UCL
3

Tunnel creation

Small tunnels created in humerus and ulna to secure the graft
4

Graft fixation

Graft passed through tunnels and secured to recreate ligament function

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