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

Kyle Bradish is an emerging ace who could return from Tommy John surgery in the second half. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025

Ace Spencer Strider is set to return from Tommy John surgery soon, too. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Here is how Cease has fared against current Athletics: Including seven starts last year to end the season, Springs has a 3.43 ERA in 42 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

Luis Garcia had a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery during spring training, and was transferred to the 60-day IL on Monday with elbow inflammation. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 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