Ultrasonographic Serial Evaluation after Reconstruction of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament and the Common Flexor Tendon of the Elbow in a High School Female Weight Lifter

Abstract

A 16-year-old female weight-lifter with average records of 70 kg for the snatch event and 90 kg for the clean and jerk event suffered chronic ulnar collateral ligament injury, and underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. An ultrasonographic evaluation was performed at six weeks, three months, six months, nine months, and one year after the operation. The horizontal and vertical distances measured during the initial ultrasonographic examination as well as at six weeks, three months, six months, nine months, and one year after the operation were 8.4 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.6 mm, 2.8 mm, 2.7 mm, 2.7 mm, and -1.2 mm, 2.4 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.0 mm, 0.0 mm, 0.0 mm, respectively. The lifting records at one year after the operation were 65 kg for the snatch event and 90 kg for the clean and jerk event. The ultrasonographic method of serial examination was useful for evaluation of the rehabilitation program and for deciding on the time to return to competition.