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

This technique, a combination of traditional Tommy John surgery—a procedure pioneered by Frank Jobe in the nineteen-seventies—and new technology, is known as a hybrid surgery. —Lindsey Adler, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025

Gerrit Cole's Tommy John surgery created one more opening in the rotation. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025

Alcántara, making his return from Tommy John surgery Thursday, was one strike away from taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Pittsburgh. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

While the Yankees’ prospects for 2025 are looking a bit bleak in the absence of ace Gerrit Cole, who underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery two weeks ago, Sloan is primed for another lucrative campaign. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 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