When the Boston Red Sox revealed that Lucas Giolito was experiencing elbow discomfort after his first March start against the Twins, the Red Sox and their fans feared the worst.
Early imaging of Giolito’s right arm showed a partial ulnar collateral ligament tear and flexor strain. It seemed like Gioltio was headed for Tommy John surgery — typical Boston bad luck.
But the hurler was able to avoid the worst-case scenario. On March 12, Giolito underwent surgery to repair his right UCL with an internal brace procedure instead. The procedure was completed successfully, the Red Sox announced on Wednesday.
The avoidance of Tommy John surgery was the best possible outcome for Gioltio and the Sox. Tommy John surgery requires the total reconstruction of the UCL, with donor tendons taken from elsewhere in the body. The internal brace procedure fixes the existing ligament with “a strong, tape-like suture material” and therefore shortens the recovery time from the procedure.
Tommy John surgery is dreaded as a season-ending and potentially career-altering option for pitchers. The recovery time rests somewhere between 12-18 months for the intense repairs. The internal brace procedure has the potential to cut that recovery time in half, according to the website of Ian S. Rice, an orthopedic surgeon operating out of Cincinnati.
When Boston first announced that Giolito would need his right UCL repaired, the extent of the surgery he would need was unknown. The Red Sox and Giolito dodged a bullet with the outcome — if all goes according to plan with his UCL reconstruction, he could be able to pitch almost all of the second season of his two-year deal with the Sox.
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