UCL Repair — with Internal Brace

UW Health Sports Medicine · UW Health Sports Rehabilitation; UW Health Sports Medicine physician group

Weight-Bearing

N/A (elbow surgery)

Key Restrictions

Week 1: hard brace 90°; Week 2: brace 30°-100°, rehab ROM 15°-110°; Week 3: brace 20°-100°; brace off 6-8 weeks; no valgus stress; BFR allowed 4-6 weeks post-op; 80% LSI for interval hitting at 10 wks; 90% LSI for interval throwing at 12 wks; RTS 6-9 months

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-3 wks): hard brace 90°, isometrics wk2; Phase II (3-8 wks): hinged brace ROM progressions, isotonics wk4, brace off wk7, BFR 4-6 wks, grip/HHD testing wk8; Phase III (8-12 wks): full ROM, plyometrics wk8, interval throwing wk12 (90% LSI); Phase IV (12-16 wks): arm >90° ABD, interval throwing program, sprinting wk16; Phase V (20-24 wks): plyometrics, sport-specific, RTS with grip/HHD/Biodex/ASH pass

Notes

Repair (suture anchor + fiber tape) for avulsed UCL with intact, healthy ligament — not reconstruction. Shorter RTS than UCL reconstruction: 6-9 months vs 8-12 months. 80% LSI for interval hitting (10 wks), 90% LSI for throwing (12 wks). Neurocognitive strategies in Phases IV-V. Copyright 2024.

Surgeon / Author

UW Health Sports Rehabilitation; UW Health Sports Medicine physician group

Published

2024