An analysis of four ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction procedures with cyclic valgus loading

SummaryWe describe a new transolecranon fossa ulnar (TOFU) collateral ligament reconstruction technique and compare its response to cyclic valgus loading with the Jobe, Docking, and DANE procedures. TOFU is an arthroscopically assisted, modified all-interference screw technique. A cyclic valgus moment was applied to 32 intact and reconstructed, unembalmed elbows. Valgus angles were measured at 1, 10, 100, and 1000 cycles. At all cycles, there was no difference between intact and TOFU-treated elbows. TOFU resulted in significantly smaller angles than DANE at cycles 10, 100, and 1000; Docking at cycle 1000; and Jobe at cycles 10, 100, and 1000. The TOFU procedure shows superior resistance to valgus loading than DANE and Jobe by cycle 10, and Docking by cycle 1000. Further study is needed to evaluate the clinical value of the TOFU procedure as an arthroscopically assisted technique.