Tommy John surgery comes to high school

For parents - and there will be plenty - spending July 4 weekend in
the bleachers at youth baseball tournaments, consider this.

The table below is a window into the operating room of James
Andrews, the prominent orthopedic surgeon and sports doc to many
pro athletes. Note the spike in kid athletes undergoing Tommy John surgery. Fifteen years ago, patients coming to Dr. Andrews for the ligament replacement operation were exclusively college and professional pitchers. Not a single high school pitcher. Certainly no patients younger than that.

Now, a different story. In 2008, kid players accounted for nearly one in three of Dr. Andrews' TJ patients. Frightening.

Click on the chart - much easier reading.