Media Kits

Arthrex Elbow UCL Repair with the InternalBrace™ System

  • The Injury: The ligament on the inside of the elbow known as the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is one of the main stabilizers of the joint. It is among the most injured ligaments in throwers and can significantly impact their activities. Whether due to a sudden injury or just a progressive overuse scenario, conditions of the UCL typically lead to formal evaluation and treatment by a health care provider.1 

  • The Repair: Overhead athletes who injure their UCL at either end of the ligament, without chronic damage, may benefit from a repair rather than a reconstruction procedure.2
    • A repair is performed when the ligament injury is sudden or acute, and when there is enough healthy ligament tissue to fix. The latest technology uses InternalBrace™ ligament augmentation, which supports the primary repair of soft tissue to bone. It is a thick, collagen-coated suture that lays over the repair.3
       
  • Advantages of the UCL InternalBrace™ System: Similar to how a seat belt acts in a car, surgical repair with the InternalBrace ligament augmentation procedure supports a primary repair and secures a patient’s ligaments to the bone during the healing phase, which may reduce the chance of reinjury.4 The InternalBrace procedure is designed to help speed up the recovery process4,5 and allow for an immediate range of motion.6 Early post-surgery movement may promote healthy ligament healing so patients can get back to doing the activities they love faster.5
    • In the appropriate patient, the InternalBrace ligament augmentation repair allows for accelerated post-surgery rehabilitation and earlier return to competition as compared to a conventional Tommy John reconstruction.2 
       
  • History: The first InternalBrace technique was performed on an ankle sprain in 2013. The InternalBrace ligament augmentation procedure has been used in other parts of the body, including the elbow, since 2015.
    • Today, the InternalBrace system is used for the advanced treatment for many common sports injuries and tears, including the repair and reconstruction of the:
      • Medial elbow and thumb ulnar collateral ligaments (UCL)
      • Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)
      • Achilles tendon
      • Anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL)
      • Deep and superficial deltoid ligaments
      • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
      • Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)
         
  • Patients: The Arthrex UCL InternalBrace system for elbow injuries has been used in approximately 3,000 patients, according to Arthrex sales data (2023-2024).

Athletes in the News

Arthrex’s game-changing solution for one of the most common elbow injuries in athletes is capturing national attention. Star players such as Brock Purdy, Lucas Giolito, Spencer Strider, and Drew Beam have all shared their success stories across media.

University of Tennessee baseball pitcher Drew Beam suffered a UCL injury and turned to Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Dugas used the InternalBrace™ ligament augmentation system to repair Drew's UCL tear, leveraging his healthy tissue for recovery. Beam was later selected 76th overall in the 3rd round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

References

  1. Carr JB 2nd, Camp CL, Dines JS. Elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries: indications, management, and outcomes. Arthroscopy. 2020;36(5):1221-1222. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.02.022.
  2. Walters BL, Cain EL, Emblom BA, Frantz JT, Dugas JR. Ulnar collateral ligament repair with internal brace augmentation. Orthop J Sports Med. 2016;4(3 suppl 3):2325967116S00071. doi: 10.1177/2325967116S00071
  3. Dugas JR, Walters BL, Beason DP, Fleisig GS, Chronister JE. Biomehanical comparison of ulnar collateral ligament repair with internal bracing versus modified Jobe reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2016;44(3):735-741 doi: 10.1177/0363546515620390
  4. Coetzee JC, Ellington JK, Ronan JA, Stone RM. Functional results of open Broström ankle ligament repair augmented with a suture tape. Foot Ankle Int. 2018;39.107110071774236. doi: 10.1177/1071100717742363
  5. Kulwin R, Watson TS, Rigby R, Coetzee JC, Vora A. Traditional modified Brostrom vs suture tape ligament augmentation. Foot Ankle Int. 2021;42(5):554-561. doi: 10.1177/1071100720976071
  6. Nash CE, Mickan SM, Del Mar CB, Glasziou PP. Resting injured limbs delays recovery: a systematic review. J Fam Pract. 2004;53(9):706-712.
  7. Spears TM, Parikh B, Chalmers PN, Smith MV, Freehill MT, Bowman EN. Elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair with suture augmentation is biomechanically equivalent to reconstruction and clinically demonstrates excellent outcomes: a systematic review. Arthroscopy. 2024; Apr;40(4):1343-1355.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.09.030.
  8. Bachmaier S, Wijdicks CA, Verma NN, Higgins LD, Greiner S. Biomechanical functional elbow restoration of acute ulnar collateral ligament tears: the role of internal bracing on gap formation and repair stabilization. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(8):1884-1892. doi:10.1177/0363546520921174

The InternalBrace surgical technique is intended only to augment the primary repair/reconstruction by expanding the area of tissue approximation during the healing period and is not intended as a replacement for the native ligament. The InternalBrace technique is for use during soft tissue-to-bone fixation procedures and is not cleared for bone-to-bone fixation.