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

Senzatela missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2025

Liam Hendriks is also set to make his Red Sox debut after spending last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. —Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

How Shohei Ohtani, other Dodgers helped recruit Roki Sasaki Jan. 22, 2025 At one point, Sasaki was advised by a doctor to undergo Tommy John surgery. —Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025

The lows include a season lost to Tommy John surgery in 2021 and what was a largely forgettable year in 2024. —Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 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

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- 

: ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction