Will Stem Cell Therapy Replace Tommy John Surgery for Baseball Players? Angels Pitchers May Find Out

Los Angeles Times—June 28, 2016

Los Angeles Times reporter Pedro Moura writes on the possibility of stem cell therapy replacing Tommy John surgery for torn UCLs in baseball players. Specifically, he looks at Los Angeles Angels' pitchers Andrew Heaney and Garrett Richards, and talks to top sports medicine surgeons for their input.

"How long do you wait until you realize it doesn't work?" David Altchek, MD, sports medicine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, brings up a key question. "If it turns out you were wrong and you waited four, five months then what?"

Evidence has suggested stem cell therapy may not work on full tears. Dr. Altchek has developed an algorithm that helps him determine the chances of the therapy working based on where the tear occurred within the ligament - better high than low.

To read the full article, visit LATimes.com.