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

But former Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks has pitched just five innings since 2022 due to Tommy John surgery and, even more frightening, a battle with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

Ky Bush begins road to recovery after Tommy John surgery Bush knew something was wrong after throwing a pitch during live batting practice a week before the Sox reported to camp. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025

Luzardo, like Painter, underwent Tommy John surgery early in his career. —Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

The Mets oversaw his first Tommy John surgery in 2019 and after undergoing a hybrid Tommy John/internal brace procedure with the Mets last July, Smith, who became a free agent in November, wanted to continue his medical care with the same team. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 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