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

De Leon underwent Tommy John surgery midway through the season and spent most of 2024 rehabbing. —Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

Means, who turns 32 in April, is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

Gil has battled injuries in the past, including shoulder surgery in the minors and, more recently, Tommy John surgery. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025

Listen to this article Shane Bieber’s rehab from Tommy John surgery in April of last year is going so well the Cleveland Guardians coaches have to pull back on the reins to make sure the 29-year-old right-hander doesn’t press too hard and risk a setback. —Jeff Schudel, Chicago Tribune, 4 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