PG,
This information from recent 2015 study might help better localize the medical concern and focus, which is on TJ for the population aged 15-19. The study describes a "staggering" increase in the numbers for ages 15-19, and is also interesting in suggesting how misinformed so many are about the issue of overuse and TJ:
http://www.rushortho.com/pdf/E...n-UCLR-AJSM-2015.pdf
To address the issues which both you and Roothog have about TJ not being possible until recently, it appears the authors intend to do further analysis comparing TJ and ACL repairs in the involved age group of 15-19, since both are pretty new in the spectrum of successful surgeries amd sports injuries.
These authors conclude the rise in numbers for ages 15-19 needs to correlate with greater education and a better understanding of risk reduction, which hopefully some of these discussions will provide for those with son's ages 10-19.
I think, too often, the media tries to make sense of the rise in TJ surgeries. In doing so, they tend to try to use it in a way which doesn't work from a logic standpoint. An increase in TJ surgeries from 2007 to 2015 can only be used as evidence of one conclusion - TJ surgeries are on the rise. Take note that I didn't say it is proof that UCL injuries are on the rise. That may or may not be true, but the rise in reported reconstructions cannot logically be used to support that argument. It would be the equivalent of arguing that heart disease is greatly on the rise since 1982 by pointing to the staggering increase in artificial heart implants. It just doesn't work. In fact, I would venture to say that there is no way to settle this particular argument. It's a reporting problem. Prior to the last 10-15 years, most torn UCLs most likely didn't even result in a visit to a specialist. You threw out your arm, you either tried to pitch through it or you quit pitching. I knew lots of kids in the 80's that probably suffered torn ucls, but they didn't even visit a doctor, yet alone a surgeon. Their careers were simply over. Today, we do a better job with young pitchers. A sore elbow leads to - at the very least - a doctor visit. However, this increase in reporting makes it impossible to compare numbers concerning reported incidents of injury from 1990 and 2015 in a way that gives us any truly useful information. All we can do is continue to be vigilant and cautious. However, we spend too much time trying to compare incomparable statistics when we should be focused on prevention.