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Elbow Care

Elbow Surgery

Specialized treatment for tendinopathy, instability, fractures, and complex elbow injuries.

Book Consultation614-526-2150
Board-Certified
20+ yrs
Fellowship Trained
Sports Med
Location
Dublin, OH
Approach
Minimally Invasive
Overview

An approach built around your anatomy.

A painful elbow severely limits arm movement and the ability to lift, carry, or throw. Many elbow injuries respond to physical therapy, bracing, and injections — but when conservative care isn't enough, surgery can restore function and end chronic pain.

Dr. Kovack is a leading expert in elbow surgery and uses minimally invasive techniques whenever possible, which means faster recovery, fewer complications, and lower medical costs.

Elbow Surgery at Advantage Orthopedics, Dublin OH
Advantage Orthopedics

Dr. Thomas Kovack, M.D.

01

Tommy John (UCL) reconstruction

Tommy John surgery reconstructs the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow — the ligament connecting the humerus to the ulna — using tissue taken from elsewhere in your body. The procedure is named for the Dodgers pitcher who underwent the first one in 1974.

UCL injuries are common in throwing athletes and often require reconstruction. In addition to surgery, Dr. Kovack uses regenerative medicine techniques — PRP, bone marrow aspirate, and stem cell therapies — to promote healing in damaged ligament, tendon, and cartilage tissue.

02

Minimally invasive elbow arthroscopy

Many of the procedures we perform — debridement, capsular release, OK procedure for joint smoothing, instability surgery, and nerve decompression — can be done arthroscopically. That means smaller incisions, less scarring, and a meaningfully faster return to work and sport.

Scope of Care

What we treat, and how we treat it.

Conditions Treated14

What we treat

  • Ligament and tendon tears
  • Joint instability
  • Elbow dislocation
  • Arthritis
  • Impingement
  • Synovitis
  • Tendinitis
  • Joint infection
  • Contracture (loss of motion)
  • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
  • Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow)
  • Nerve compression (cubital tunnel)
  • Cartilage injury
  • Bone fractures of the elbow
Procedures Offered14

How we treat it

  • Arthroscopic OK procedure for joint smoothing
  • Ligament repair and reconstruction (including UCL / Tommy John)
  • Capsular release for stiffness
  • Instability surgery
  • Tendon transfers
  • Nerve decompression (cubital tunnel release)
  • Medial and lateral epicondylitis surgery
  • Hemiarthroplasty (partial elbow replacement)
  • Radial head replacement
  • Elbow resurfacing
  • Total elbow replacement
  • Cartilage repair and transplant
  • Repair of humerus, ulna, and radius fractures
  • Distal biceps tendon repair
Recovery & What to Expect

Recovery varies by procedure: simple arthroscopic debridement may need only a few weeks of therapy, while UCL reconstruction typically requires 9–12 months for return to full athletic activity. Dr. Kovack outlines your specific timeline before surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Elbow Surgery — answers to common questions.

Why might I need elbow surgery?
Surgery is considered when an elbow injury — a torn ligament, advanced tendinopathy, instability, a fracture, or arthritis — fails to improve with physical therapy, bracing, anti-inflammatories, or injections, or when imaging shows a structural problem that won't heal on its own.
What conditions can elbow surgery treat?
Common diagnoses include tennis and golfer's elbow, UCL tears, distal biceps tendon tears, joint instability, dislocations, cubital tunnel (nerve) compression, arthritis, cartilage injuries, and fractures of the humerus, ulna, or radius.
What types of elbow surgery do you perform?
Dr. Kovack performs arthroscopic and open elbow procedures including the OK procedure, ligament reconstruction (including Tommy John), capsular release, instability surgery, tendon transfers, nerve decompression, epicondylitis surgery, radial head and total elbow replacement, cartilage repair, and fracture fixation.
What is Tommy John surgery?
Tommy John surgery reconstructs the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow using tissue taken from elsewhere in the body. It is most often performed on throwing athletes and is named for the Dodgers pitcher who had the first one in 1974.
How long is recovery from Tommy John surgery?
Return to full athletic throwing typically takes 9–12 months. Day-to-day function returns much sooner — most patients are out of a brace within a few weeks and back to light strengthening within 8–12 weeks.
Is tennis elbow surgery effective?
Yes, in cases that have failed at least 6–12 months of conservative care. Most patients have meaningful relief of pain and grip-strength improvement within 3–6 months of surgery.
Do you use regenerative medicine for elbow injuries?
Yes. PRP, bone marrow aspirate, and stem cell injections are part of our toolkit for tendinopathies, ligament strains, and around-the-surgery healing — used either as a standalone treatment or as a complement to surgery.
Further Reading

Ready to discuss elbow surgery?

Book a consultation with Dr. Thomas Kovack at Advantage Orthopedics in Dublin, Ohio, or call our office to talk through next steps.

Book ConsultationCall 614-526-2150
Visit Us

Advantage Orthopedics

Thomas Kovack, D.O.

6670 Perimeter Dr, Suite 140
Dublin, OH 43016
614-526-2150Get directions ↗
614.526.2150
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