Dr. Pedro Loredo Hand Surgeon Dallas Fort Worth at Hand Associates of North Dallas

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears of the wrist (TFCC)
The TFCC is made up of triangular fibrocartilage discus, radioulnar ligaments, and ulnarcarpal ligaments.  The TFCC primary function is to cover the ulna head, assist with load transmission in the wrist, and stabilizes forearm rotation.  This important ligament is located on the side of the wrist below the little finger.  

Mechanism of injury to this triangular fibrocartilage complex occurs when someone is exposed to a fall on an outstretched, repetitive gripping,  or a traumatic injury to the wrist.  A tear occurs on the TFCC when there is significant amount of force on the ulnar sided hyperextended wrist.

This wrist injury can cause immediate wrist pain, and chronic wrist pain.  It will cause patient to have trouble with rotating their wrist and cause wrist weakness. 

TFCC injuries can be seen in laborers, tennis players, golfers, gymnast, cheerleaders, weight lifters, motor vehicle accident or individuals involved with a lot of wrist loading/twisting.  

Triangular fibrocartilage complex tear is the most common cause for persistent unexplained wrist pain.

Symptoms Dr. Pedro Loredo at Hand Associates of North Dallas sees with TFCC injuries:

  • Wrist pain
  • Wrist swelling
  • Weakness
  • Snapping, clicking, or popping of the wrist
  • Pain with gripping
  • Pain with forearm rotation
  • The wrist " giving way "
  • Some thing catching in the joint
  • Diffuse wrist pain

Dr. Pedro Loredo Hand Surgeon address these injuries with minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, if conservative measures have failed. The wrist is placed in a tower to assist in opening the small wrist joint.  With use of a 2 mm scope and similar working instruments the wrist joint is examined. 

Wrist Arthroscope has become the gold standard to diagnose intra-articular injury and triangular fibrocartilage complex tears of the wrist. Wrist arthroscope is used not only to correct an injury but also more frequently to diagnose the wrist pain. 

What is wrong with MRI?  They are only about 55-60% accurate in determing whether there is an intra-articular injury. 

If Dr. Pedro Loredo at Hand Associates of North Dallas, performs a wrist scope on a patient, that patient goes home that same day. There are "NO STITCHES " to remove.  A combination of steroid / local anesthetic is placed in the wrist for pain relief and a splint for one week (in most cases). 

 

TFCC-FAST FIX - CLICK TO VIEW ANIMATION, which is the most technologically advanced equipment, is utilized by Dr. Pedro Loredo Hand Surgeon at Hand Associates of North Dallas, for the Triangular fibrocartilage complex ( TFCC) repair.  

Hand Associates of North Dallas