The anterior oblique band of the medial collateral ligament (anterior band UCL) is the primary valgus stabiliser of the elbow, running from the anteromedial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the coronoid. It is the most important structure in elbow medial stability for throwing athletes.
Primary restraint against valgus opening at 30-120 degrees of elbow flexion — the critical range for overhead throwing. The ligament is under maximal stress during late cocking and early acceleration phases of the throwing motion.
UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) specifically reconstructs the anterior oblique band using the docking, modified Jobe, or DANE-TJ technique. The ulnar nerve must be identified and protected during dissection. Return to competitive pitching requires 12-18 months rehabilitation.
UCL reconstruction for anterior oblique band failure in overhead throwing athletes, with 80-85% return to previous level of pitching after appropriate rehabilitation.
The anterior oblique band sustains 64 Nm of valgus torque during elite pitching — near its failure load — explaining the high rate of UCL injury in professional baseball pitchers.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
