Radial Head Arthroplasty > LCL/MCL reconstruction (Tommy John x 2) ?

[robotzombie]

Last February I bailed out and ended up smashing my radial head to bits, and tearing my ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Dr.Robertson at Barton in S. Lake Tahoe performed a Radial Head Arthroplasty, replacing my smashed radial head with brand new shiny stainless steel one and repaired the ligament by tightening and anchoring it...

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9405032...7638811227276/

Fast forward 7 months or so - ROM is great however the elbow is not stable, I have clicks and pops and grinding occurring, as well as pain. I don't feel confident in the joint, and though I have gotten back to most normal activities I can't chop wood, and don't feel safe supporting my body weight with the joint, and am apprehensive at using a pole in that arm if skiing...

Stress test xray shows instability and indicates that the UCL and MCL both need repair. Robertson wants to perform what amounts to a double Tommy John (both UCL/MCL reconstruction) and wants to do so sooner than later. Under a dozen of these on record. Trying to get a 2nd opinion with Dr Van Den Bogaerde in Davis but he isn't available for months it seems. I don't have palmaris and am pretty damn split on whether to go with autograft from hamstring or allograft. He'll need 2 tendons so he'd have to harvest a good bit from my hamstring....edging towards allograft so that he can pick a suitable size for each side rather than be stuck with the size of my hamstring...but, still pretty on the fence as to how to make a decision like that with such little case history on it....

The longer this goes on the more wear and tear my elbow is getting as force/weight/etc is not being distributed evenly but rather focussing in on a singular point.

Anyone have any experience with any sort of similar injury? Anyone have a elbow specialist in NorCal they would recommend? Trying to figure out WTF to do....

[Mazderati]

Had to be some hit. Good luck.

[robotzombie]

Thanks Maz...