Leland Devin P, Conte Stan, Flynn Nancy, Conte Nicholas, Crenshaw Ken, Wilk Kevin E, Camp Christopher L
Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Conte Sport Performance Therapy, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2019 Sep 25;7(9):2325967119871442. doi: 10.1177/2325967119871442. eCollection 2019 Sep.
As the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery continues to rise rapidly, an update on the current prevalence and demographics in professional baseball players is warranted.
The prevalence of UCL reconstruction in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players will be higher than that previously reported, and the increase in prevalence will be most notable in MiLB pitchers.
Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
During the 2018 baseball season, an online questionnaire regarding a history of UCL surgery was distributed to the certified athletic trainers of all 30 MLB organizations. These trainers then administered the survey to all players within their organizations, including MLB, MiLB (AAA, AA, High A, Low A, High Rookie, Low Rookie), and Dominican Summer League (DSL) players. Demographics were compared between MLB, MiLB, and DSL players. Results of this 2018 survey were compared with previously published data from the 2012 season to assess the change over time.
There were 6135 professional baseball players who completed the survey (66% response rate). The prevalence of UCL reconstruction in all MLB and MiLB players was 13% (637/4928), while the prevalence in DSL players was 2% (20/1207) ( < .001). The prevalence in all MLB and MiLB players (13%) and pitchers (20%) both increased significantly from 2012 ( < .001). MLB pitchers reported a higher prevalence of UCL reconstruction than did MiLB pitchers (26% vs 19%, respectively; < .001). In 2018, the prevalence of UCL reconstruction has increased significantly in MiLB pitchers (19% vs 15%, respectively; < .001) and pitchers aged 21 to 30 years (22% vs 17%, respectively; < .001) compared with 2012. Additionally, United States-born pitchers were more likely to have undergone UCL reconstruction compared with Latin America-born pitchers (23% vs 13%, respectively; < .001).
The prevalence of UCL reconstruction has increased significantly in professional baseball players over the past 6 years from 10% to 13%. Ultimately, the prevalence of UCL reconstruction has increased most significantly since 2012 in MiLB pitchers, pitchers aged 21 to 30 years, and pitchers born in the United States.
随着尺侧副韧带（UCL）手术的发生率持续快速上升，有必要更新目前职业棒球运动员中的患病率及人口统计学数据。
美国职业棒球大联盟（MLB）和美国小联盟棒球（MiLB）球员中UCL重建的患病率将高于先前报道的水平，且患病率的增加在MiLB投手中最为显著。
横断面研究；证据等级，3级。
在2018年棒球赛季期间，向所有30个MLB组织的认证运动训练师发放了一份关于UCL手术史的在线问卷。这些训练师随后对其所在组织内的所有球员进行调查，包括MLB、MiLB（三级联盟、二级联盟、高级别A组、低级别A组、高级别新秀组、低级别新秀组）和多米尼加夏季联赛（DSL）的球员。对MLB、MiLB和DSL球员的人口统计学数据进行比较。将2018年这项调查的结果与先前公布的2012赛季数据进行比较，以评估随时间的变化情况。
共有6135名职业棒球运动员完成了调查（回复率66%）。所有MLB和MiLB球员中UCL重建的患病率为13%（637/4928），而DSL球员中的患病率为2%（20/1207）（P<0.001）。所有MLB和MiLB球员（13%）以及投手（20%）的患病率均较2012年显著增加（P<0.001）。MLB投手报告的UCL重建患病率高于MiLB投手（分别为26%和19%；P<0.001）。与2012年相比，2018年MiLB投手（分别为19%和15%；P<0.001）以及21至30岁的投手（分别为22%和17%；P<0.001）中UCL重建的患病率显著增加。此外，与出生于拉丁美洲的投手相比，出生于美国的投手更有可能接受过UCL重建（分别为23%和13%；P<0.001）。
在过去6年中，职业棒球运动员中UCL重建的患病率从10%显著增加到了13%。最终，自2012年以来，MiLB投手、21至30岁的投手以及出生于美国的投手中UCL重建的患病率增加最为显著。
