UCL Repair vs. Reconstruction: What PTs Need to Know | Dr. Jeffrey Dugas

Join Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS—senior writer and injury analyst for ESPN—as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, Managing Partner at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center and Team Physician for Troy University.In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Dugas breaks down the latest evidence, clinical criteria, and outcomes behind UCL repair with internal brace augmentation, the evolution of Tommy John surgery, and the emerging landscape of hybrid reconstruction techniques.Physical therapists will gain insight into:- Differences between UCL repair, reconstruction, and hybrid procedures- Selection criteria and tissue quality considerations- Return-to-play data and reoperation trends- How surgical decision-making affects rehab timelines and expectations- What current evidence suggests about long-term outcomes in overhead athletesTarget Audience:physical therapists, orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, PT students, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, rehab specialists, baseball rehab clinicians, sports medicine providers, clinic directors, PT educators, biomechanists, performance staff working with overhead athletesClinical Outcomes of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Internal Brace Versus Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Competitive Athletes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39891035/