A team of scientists from NYU hospital of joint diseases highlights that by following the operative approach, the hook of hamate fractures of MLB players can be treated and players may get their pre-injury performance levels back. 

The players of Major League Baseball (MLB) show the higher prevalence rate of the hook of hamate fractures. But what effects these fractures put on player's performance? The evidence related to this was insufficient, and therefore Michael S. Guss and colleagues conducted a retrospective case-control study with 18 MLB players to determine their performance level after getting treatment for the hook of hamate fractures.

The selected patients were incurred from 1989 to 2014 for over 26 seasons. Press release, players profile (from sites like www.baseballreference.com and www.mlb.com) and injury reports were used to extract selected patients. Player's number of years in the league, position, age, injury mechanism and management were documented. For wins above replacement, individual season statistics for two seasons exactly before and two seasons after the injury were noticed. By matching the player's performance statistics, age and position, eighteen controls were assessed. The execution of the performance comparison of cohorts was also done. The comparison of post injury performance with pre injury performance and matched-controls was taken as the study's primary outcome. 

The mean seasons of MLB experience before injury noticed was 4.4 along with mean age 25.1 years. The nondominant batting hand went through all the injuries. All the players got the treatment. Win above replacement showed no considerable change during pre and post injury comparison. Also, win above replacement exhibited no declined performance during first and second season post injury as compared to matched controls. This increases the chances of players to recover from injury and retain their performance levels back.