Could Surgery Help Joe Nathan?

MINNEAPOLIS - Joe Nathan’s ligament tear sounds pretty scary to Twins fans and the team. It could either mean, the all-star closer is out for a few games or the whole season.

To a pitcher, college or professional, his or her arm is their main weapon. So when something goes wrong, it can be a season or career ender.

For Joe Nathan, it's his elbow that could keep him in the dugout for the season. The all-star closer tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm.

Dr. Thomas Walsh with Park Nicollet Orthopedics says there are two options for a ligament tear: rest and rehab or Tommy John surgery. During Tommy John surgery, doctors will rebuild the damaged ligament with another ligament from the patient. For Nathan, that could be his only option.

“In general, a significant injury to that ligament in an elite throwing athlete would require surgical repair," said Walsh.

The surgery is something pitchers can recover from, but it will keep him out of the line up for at least a year.

“Often they come back throwing very well. Sometimes the second year back is even better than the first."

A number of major league pitchers have had Tommy John surgery and recovered successfully, including Minnesota Twins Pat Neshak, Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano and New York Yankee Mariano Rivera.