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

Here’s why Phillies fans can’t wait to see Painter in Philly: Painter injured his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year. —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

During the team’s last homestand, fellow young talent Emmet Sheehan returned from Tommy John surgery with four sharp innings, and seemed primed to occupy an open spot in the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

The lefty has been sensational in his first 17 starts for the Yankees, going 10-2 with a 1.92 ERA for a team that lost a Cy Young winner, Gerrit Cole, to Tommy John surgery in spring training. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025

Stephenson is on the injured list with right biceps inflammation, which struck him in just his second game after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 25 June 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