Elbow Injuries in Baseball Players: An Orthopedic Perspective

The management of elbow injuries in baseball players, especially pitchers, represents a multifaceted challenge for orthopedic surgeons and demands a comprehensive understanding of the biomechanics, preventive measures, treatment modalities, and long-term outcomes associated with these injuries. The elbow of professional baseball pitchers is subjected to forces that could potentially lead to a spectrum of adaptive or pathological changes.1 Awareness of the asymptomatic adaptive changes that may be present, such as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) anterior band thickening2 and ulnotrochlear and/or capitellar subchondral sclerosis,3 is crucial in correctly diagnosing and treating the injuries.4As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in not only sports medicine but also baseball medicine, I navigate the intricate landscape of evidence-based medicine to identify causative injury factors, integrate prevention strategies, and formulate athlete-specific treatment options to ultimately optimize and streamline orthopedic care to decrease time out of play and increase success to obtain high-quality outcomes when treating elbow injuries, especially in baseball players.