UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries

Keywords: TFCC, triangular fibrocartilage complex, wrist (PubMed Search)

Posted: 10/23/2011 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD

The TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) is a ligamentous/cartilage like complex similar to the meniscus of the knee located on the ulnar side of the wrist.

http://yanyanxu.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/trifibcc.gif

Hx: ulnar sided wrist pain following trauma and associated with activity related mechanical symptoms such as clicking.

PE: tenderness to palpation distal to ulnar head or at ulnar styloid . Tenderness against resisted radial deviation.

Plain film may show ulnar styloid avulsion or injury to carpal structures.

Refer to hand/wrist surgeon

Splint in ulnar gutter of long arm spica

MRI or arthrogram are studies of choice.

http://www.cobalthealth.co.uk/MImageGen.ashx?image=%2Fmedia%2F12951%2Fwrist-tfcc-tear-big.jpg&width=170&crop=true