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Figure of 8 Technique and Outcomes

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Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

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Abstract

The figure of 8 reconstruction described by Dr. Frank Jobe was the first surgical technique for addressing ulnar collateral ligament injuries in throwing athletes. While this technique has undergone various changes throughout the years, the fundamental principles of this technique remain the same. This technique involves the creation of a series of drill holes in the ulna and humerus through which a graft is passed in a figure of 8 fashion, thus giving the technique its name. Recent studies have demonstrated over 80 % excellent results with regard to return to play at the same level.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Montefiore Medical Center, 1250 Waters Place, 11th Floor, Bronx, NY, USA

    Tony Wanich MD

  2. Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jared M. Newman MD

  3. Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Lewis A. Yocum MD

Authors
  1. Tony Wanich MD
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  2. Jared M. Newman MD
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  3. Lewis A. Yocum MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tony Wanich MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    Joshua S. Dines

  2. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    David W. Altchek

Video Legends

Video 16.1 Ulnar tunnel creation. Drilling the two converging ulnar tunnels, anterior and posterior to the sublime tubercle

Video 16.2 Humeral tunnel creation. Drilling one of the two converging humeral tunnels on the anterosuperior medial epicondyle

Video 16.3 Graft passage through the humeral tunnels. The graft is in the ulnar tunnels, and the tagged end is passed from distal to proximal through the humeral tunnels, followed by repassing it proximal to distal along with a suture loop

Video 16.4 Graft passage to create figure of 8 configuration. The tagged end of the graft is passed through the ulnar tunnels from posterior to anterior using a previously passed suture loop

Video 16.5 Final graft passage through the humeral tunnel. The free end of the graft being passed from proximal to distal through the humeral tunnel with a previously passed suture loop

Video 16.6 Intraoperative valgus stress test. Valgus instability in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) deficient ulnohumeral joint

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Wanich, T., Newman, J., Yocum, L. (2015). Figure of 8 Technique and Outcomes. In: Dines, J., Altchek, D. (eds) Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7540-9_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7540-9_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7539-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7540-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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