HClinical follow-up of professional baseball players undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using the new Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic overhead athlete shoulder and elbow score (KJOC Score)
Authors
Domb BG, Davis JT, Alberta FG, Mohr KJ, Brooks AG, Elattrache NS, Yocum LM, Jobe FW
DOI: 10.1177/0363546509359060
Purpose
To validate the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) score as a specific tool for assessing outcomes in professional baseball players after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction.
Methods
Fifty-five professional baseball players completed the KJOC score, DASH, and DASH sports module. They were divided into 3 categories based on playing status and compared to 123 healthy throwers. Statistical correlations and discriminant analysis were performed.
Key Findings
- The KJOC score correlated well with DASH and DASH sports scores but showed superior sensitivity.
- It could differentiate between athletes playing with pain, without pain, or not playing.
- A threshold score of 81.3 on the KJOC was predictive of being able to return to play without pain.
Conclusion
The KJOC score is a validated, athlete-specific tool that outperforms general upper-extremity scoring systems in detecting subtle impairments in throwing athletes after UCL reconstruction.
What This Means for Patients
Professional throwing athletes recovering from UCL surgery now have a more accurate method to assess their readiness to return to play and monitor subtle changes in performance.