Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtä-mē-ˈjän- 

plural Tommy John surgeries

: a surgical procedure in which a torn ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow is replaced with a tendon graft typically obtained from a superficial muscle of the forearm : ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the medical director for the Cincinnati Reds, specializes in an elbow-ligament reconstruction procedure commonly known as Tommy John surgery, named for the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who first underwent it, in 1974.

—Sara Corbett

But as an outfielder he hurt his throwing arm and had to have Tommy John surgery before the year was out.

—Kelli Anderson

Examples of Tommy John surgery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was despite missing all of 2019 and 2020 following Tommy John surgery. —Chuck Murr, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

That was certainly part of the conversation when the team, after losing Joe Musgrove to Tommy John surgery, talked with Morejón in November to assess and discuss options for 2025. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

The righty would eventually undergo Tommy John surgery which sidelined him for all of 2024. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

Nearly 40% of all MLB pitchers who played in 2024 have undergone Tommy John surgery (UCL reconstruction), up from 27% in 2016, as throwing velocities and spin rates have increased. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after Tommy John (Thomas Edward John, Jr. born 1943), U.S. baseball player who underwent the surgery in 1974

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Tommy John surgery

• radiosurgery
• cryosurgery
• microsurgery
• neurosurgery
• psychosurgery
• perjury

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- 

: ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction