New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - Atlanta Braves veteran pitcher Tom Glavine will undergo season-ending surgery.

Glavine made the decision after Wednesday's visit to specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama revealed a partial tear to the flexor tendon in his left elbow.

Glavine breathed a sigh of relief after the MRI determined there was no damage found in the ligament, as Tommy John surgery would have likely ended the left-hander's career.

Andrews will perform the surgery on Thursday, and Glavine is expected to regain form after four-to-five months of rehab, though he has yet to determine his plans to pitch during the 2009 season.

Glavine was placed on the disabled list for the third time this season on Friday due to a strained left elbow. The 42-year-old lefty had not gone on the disabled list at any point in his career until this season, but has been battling elbow discomfort since early May.

After a two-month stint on the DL, Glavine toed the rubber against the Chicago Cubs last Thursday. The outing didn't go as the veteran had hoped, as he allowed seven runs on seven hits and four walks over four frames.

Glavine was 2-4 with a 5.54 earned run average in 13 starts this season, giving him a career mark of 305-203 -- including 56 complete games -- with a 3.54 ERA during two stints with Atlanta and a five-year tenure with the New York Mets.