LA Surgeon's Innovative Surgery Aids Dodgers' Pitching Aces

Los Angeles-based surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache has played a pivotal role in salvaging the seasons of Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell through innovative surgical procedures. His use of a new, minimally invasive technique allowed both pitchers to return to the mound far quicker than traditional methods would have permitted.

Skubal faced a daunting prospect in early season when diagnosed with a bone chip in his left elbow. He anticipated a recovery period of at least three months, a timeline that could have effectively ended his season. However, Dr. ElAttrache proposed a procedure using a specialized camera, described as being the size of a pinhead, which would require an incision no larger than an injection.

"I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely,’" Skubal recalled. "I didn’t even need to hear anything else."

While ElAttrache had not previously used this specific equipment on a high-profile athlete, the surgery on May 6 proved successful. Skubal was playing catch just nine days later and pitching in a game approximately four weeks post-operation. He estimated the procedure cost him only five starts, a stark contrast to the 15-17 starts he would have potentially missed with a longer recovery.

Roughly two weeks after Skubal's surgery, ElAttrache performed a more complex procedure on Blake Snell, another two-time Cy Young Award winner. Snell's surgery involved removing multiple bone chips and shaving down bone spurs. Traditional arthroscopic surgery could have sidelined Snell for up to six months. Instead, he missed only half that time, returning in mid-August.

Snell has since made eight starts, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.13 earned-run average. He reported improved elbow mobility and a significantly better curveball as a result of the procedure. "The first time I threw the curveball, like, lightly, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be disgusting,’" Snell said.

Scott Boras, agent for both pitchers, lauded ElAttrache's expertise. "Those solutions are a product of the genius of a doctor who has certainly proven to be Hall-of-Fame worthy," Boras stated.

ElAttrache, who also serves as the team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and has a long history of treating elite athletes, including Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady, expressed confidence in the NanoNeedle Scope 2.0 technology. The device features a 1.9 mm diameter camera, allowing for smaller incisions, reduced swelling, and faster recovery.

"I’ve been using the scope in my practice for 35 years," ElAttrache said. "It’s very natural for me. It’s not like I’m learning all new skills off the bat. It’s like an experienced pitcher learning a new pitch – not learning how to pitch."

Both Skubal and Snell have recovered well, contributing to the Dodgers' performance as they head into the postseason. ElAttrache's innovative approach has not only saved individual seasons but potentially bolstered the team's championship aspirations.