Tommy John surgery

noun
Tom·​my John surgery | \ ˈtä-mē-ˈjän- How to pronounce Tommy John surgery (audio) \
plural Tommy John surgeries

Definition of Tommy John surgery

: 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

First Known Use of Tommy John surgery

1984, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for Tommy John surgery

after Tommy John (Thomas Edward John, Jr. born 1943), U.S. baseball player who underwent the surgery in 1974

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More Definitions for Tommy John surgery

Tommy John surgery

noun
Tom·​my John surgery | \ ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- How to pronounce Tommy John surgery (audio) \

Medical Definition of Tommy John surgery