Los Angeles Dodgers executive director of medical services and senior orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache is at the center of some controversy over his involvement in the treatment plan for UFC star Conor McGregor.
It was reported MLB sought to interview ElAttrache amid the New York Times disclosing he supported therapeutic use of performance-enhancing drugs for McGregor during his recovery from a leg fracture.
According to Matt Moret of The Athletic, ElAttrache has already met with MLB officials and maintains he was not involved in any wrongdoing.
“I have spoken with MLB and I am very comfortable with the process that the league and I will complete to assure the public that I have followed every rule and regulation in my medical treatment of athletes without exception,” ElAttrache said in a statement. “My record is completely clean including in this case. I will leave it to MLB officials to provide any further comment as they see fit.”
McGregor broke multiple bones in his lower left leg during a UFC fight in 2021, and ElAttrache oversaw the surgery to repair them. He then referred McGregor to a specialist who wound up prescribing the banned drugs.
ElAttrache purportedly wrote a letter that supported McGregor’s decision to pursue a special exemption that would allow him to use performance-enhancing drugs without facing the prospect of a suspension from the UFC since he wouldn’t be competing during that period. The attempt to exploit a loophole of sorts angered some within the UFC.
Along with his work for the Dodgers, ElAttrache also is the team doctor for the Los Angeles Rams.
Dr. ElAttrache details new NanoNeedle surgery
As part of being a world renowned sports surgeon, ElAttrache has operated on a wide range of top athletes. Included in that group is Blake Snell, who recently had left elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.
Snell was the beneficiary of the use of the NanoNeedle scope 2.0, weeks after Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was a case study of sorts.
“Well, it’s basically going to accomplish the same things as with the usual arthroscopy, just miniaturizing the equipment,” ElAttrache explained during an appearance on the “Petros & Money” show.
“So the Nanoscope is about a little less than two millimeters in diameter. So it’s like the size of a needle, and it has a chip on the end of it and gives you about a 120-degree view. That compares to a normal arthroscope that’s a little over four millimeters in diameter.
“So it’s less than half the size, and it helps you get into a joint and into tight spaces without having to have more significant exposure and less tissue invasion.”
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