Arthroscopic management of wrist triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries in the athlete

Abstract

Wrist arthroscopy can facilitate early definitive diagnosis of debilitating soft tissue injuries in athletes. Many such injuries can be treated successfully with minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques, reducing the morbidity associated with surgical exposure and permitting earlier return to competition. The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is vulnerable to injury from rotational forces or axial load applied to the hand. Under arthroscopic control, injuries to the central articular disk can be treated by excision of unstable tissue fragments; peripheral separation of the disk from the dorsal or volar ligaments can be repaired with sutures to achieve complete healing. Avulsion fractures from the dorsal ulnar margin of the sigmoid notch of the radius are better treated through a small arthrotomy after initial arthroscopic evaluation.