Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Medial Epicondyle Fractures After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Professional Baseball Pitchers

BACKGROUND: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) is a common procedure among professional baseball pitchers. An uncommon complication after UCLR is a fracture of the medial epicondyle at the level of the humeral tunnel, which requires open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to determine the performance upon and rate of return to sport (RTS) in professional baseball pitchers after ORIF of the medial epicondyle and examine whether there is a difference in the RTS rate and performance between players who underwent ORIF and matched controls. It was hypothesized that there would be a high rate of RTS in professional baseball pitchers after ORIF of the medial epicondyle, with no difference between the ORIF and control groups in the rate of RTS or performance, specifically related to the primary performance outcome variables of win-loss percentage, walks plus hits per inning pitched, fielding independent pitching, and wins above replacement. METHODS: All professional baseball pitchers who underwent ORIF of the medial epicondyle between 2010 and 2016 were included in this study. Demographic and performance data (preoperative and postoperative) were recorded for each player. Performance metrics were then compared between the ORIF and control (no history of UCLR or ORIF) groups. RESULTS: Overall, 15 pitchers (80.0% starters, 73.3% right-handed) underwent ORIF of a medial epicondyle fracture. All had undergone prior UCLR using either the American Sports Medicine Institute (n = 9; 60.0%) or docking (n = 6; 40.0%) technique. ORIF techniques included fixation with 1 screw (n = 13; 86.7%) and fixation with suture anchors (n = 2; 13.3%). Eleven (73.3%) pitchers were able to return to sport (did not differ from controls; P = .537); 55% returned to the same level or higher. No significant differences existed in the primary performance outcome variables when comparing preoperative with postoperative performance. No significant differences in the primary performance outcome variables were seen between the ORIF and control groups after surgery, although players in the ORIF group pitched fewer innings than controls after surgery (P = .003). CONCLUSION: After ORIF of the medial epicondyle in professional pitchers with a history of UCLR, 73.3% were able to return to sport (only 55% of those who returned pitched at the same level or higher) without a significant decline in most performance variables when compared with their preoperative performance or matched controls. The number of innings pitched declined after surgery.