My son has recently experienced an elbow injury. Immediately after the injury, the trainer performed a battery of tests to determine if the UCL has been compromised or torn. He passed these tests and given the pain was in the back of the elbow, we did not concern ourselves with the UCL. After two weeks of rest, he began light tossing but was feeling tightness or pulling in his forearm. We immediately scheduled an MRI.
The radiologists report indicated a complete tear of the proximal area of the UCL. The orthopedic, a well respected sports ortho, disagreed with that reading. We sought a second orthopedic's opinion only to find that he concurred with the radiologist. Needless to say, we are puzzled. He passed the clinical exams by all those who administered them. He never felt pain on the side of his elbow, only the back. When he started to throw after the initial 2 weeks rest, he was throwing 90% from 120 feet. He has no pain and the tightness was all but gone the last day he threw.
I wonder if anyone else has heard of a situation of a complete tear where there is no pain in the area and the athlete can pass the clinical exams? Can it be the MRI gave a false indication of a tear where 2 of the 3 doctors were misled? We are now seeking a 3rd orthopedic opinion but that seems ridiculous. Can't they scope it to determine if it's torn before surgery? I had no idea there was more art than science when it comes to medicine.