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

So far, the return to pitching has been a smooth one after Tommy John surgery, a year off, and a change of uniform. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

Musgrove described the soreness as a normal part of the progression in his return from Tommy John surgery. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025

Luis Perales, who was regarded as Boston’s top pitching prospect before undergoing Tommy John surgery last June, recently completed his recovery and has looked impressive since returning to the mound. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025

Sheehan, who returned from Tommy John surgery in mid-June, gave up a clean single to Rafael Devers with one out in the first and nothing else. —Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 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