Page 45 - Hoag Orthopedic Institute 2018 Outcomes Report

“MY ARM FEELS GREAT, FEELS STRONG. DON’T THINK ABOUT THE SURGERY WHEN I’M OUT THERE PITCHING, THAT’S THE KEY. ALL FEELS BACK TO NORMAL. REALLY APPRECIATE THE JOB...”
JOSE ALVAREZ, LOS ANGELES ANGELS
CASE STUDY: ELBOW ARTHROSCOPY
Michael F. Shepard, MD
Major League Baseball Player,
Back on the Mound
At the end of the 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, Jose Alvarez presented with persistent elbow pain and noted difficulty in finishing his pitches. Since coming to MLB from Venezuela, the lefty’s career was at a crossroads. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove painful bone spurs and a loose body in the back of his elbow joint.
After surgery, Alvarez had a very successful winter ball campaign in Venezuela and was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP). He has since become a
staple in the Angels’ bullpen, leading the team over the last three seasons with 192 appearances and maintaining a 3.78 earned run average (ERA) in that span.
High School Water Polo Player,
Back in the Pool
Luke Makshanoff presented with a painful elbow and an inability to throw and swim effectively for his water polo team. Luke had a condition that is a common problem in overhead athletes’ elbows – Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Osteochondritis lesions are basically the result of the bone and cartilage breaking apart or degenerating in the growing elbow, most commonly around ages 10-14. OCD lesions result from both genetic and mechanical/overuse factors.
Luke underwent an arthroscopic surgery to remove his osteochondral lesion and underwent a microfracture procedure to restore the cartilage at his capitellum. He progressed back to play, was
a league champion as a sophomore, and already has garnered attention from the top water polo schools in the country.
Elbow Restoration with Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery for patients like Jose and Luke involves inserting a small camera (4.0mm
or 2.7mm) into a joint (shoulder, elbow, knee) to perform surgery. This technique can be used to repair or reconstruct ligaments, repair torn tendons, reconstruct cartilage, or remove loose pieces from within joints. The procedure is best performed by an orthopedic surgeon who is subspecialty trained in sports and arthroscopic surgery as well as elbow arthroscopy, a subspecialty in the treatment of “overhead” athletes.
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