PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES OF ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR FOR TRAUMATIC TRIANGULAR FIBROCARTILAGE COMPLEX (TFCC) INJURIES

Abstract

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) plays a crucial role in stabilizing the distal radioulnar joint; TFCC injuries commonly cause ulnar-sided wrist pain and functional impairment of the hand. Arthroscopic wrist surgery is an effective and minimally invasive treatment option; however, domestic reports remain limited. Therefore, we conducted the study entitled “Preliminary outcomes of arthroscopic wrist surgery for the repair of traumatic triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries” with the aims of describing the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of TFCC injuries and evaluating treatment outcomes following arthroscopic wrist surgery. Subject and Methods: A total of 15 patients aged 18 years and older with triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed through clinical examination, wrist X-ray, and MRI. Patients underwent arthroscopic TFCC repair at Thong Nhat Hospital from June 2021 to June 2024. Results:The study cohort consisted predominantly of female patients, with a mean age of 36.8 ± 9.14 years, the right wrist was the most commonly affected side, with household accidents being the primary cause of injury, palmer type IB TFCC injury was the most frequently observed type, the mean surgical time was 62 ± 15 minutes, the mean hospital stay was 4.4 ± 1.24 days, the VAS pain score significantly improved from 6.01 ± 0.88 preoperatively to 0.36 ± 0.63 at 6 months postoperatively (p<0.05), the MMWS score improved from 45.33 ± 3.52 to 91 ± 5.07 at 6 months postoperatively (p<0.05). Conclusion: arthroscopic TFCC repair is a minimally invasive, effective, and safe surgical approach that alleviates pain and restores wrist function.