Chronic Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears with Distal Radioulna Joint Instability: A New Method of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Reconstruction

From September 1996 to September 1997, 27 adult patients were diagnosed with chronic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears with distal radioulna joint (DRUJ) instability in our clinic. They all received the procedure of TFCC reconstruction with partial extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon combined with or without ulnar shortening. There were 26 males and one female in the study with a mean age of 22.4 years. The follow-up period ranged from 22 to 28 months with a mean of 26.2 months. 24 patients who had positive or zero ulnar variance received the procedure of ulnar shortening. Three patients who had minus ulnar variance only received TFCC reconstruction. After the operation, the DRUJ was fixed by a 2.0 mm K-wire for 4 weeks. All patients underwent a rehabilitation program and they were reexamined at our outpatient department (OPD). The results were graded according to the Mayo Modified Wrist Score. Five of the 27 patients rated their wrists ‘excellent’, 18 rated ‘good’, and 4 rated ‘fair’. Overall, a total of 23 patients (85%) rated satisfactorily and returned to work or sport activities. In the 4 patients rated ‘fair’, mild pain at work and/or exercise, and mildly limited supination were found; however their grip strength was improved at least by 65% compared to the opposite hand. Therefore, as suggested by this study, TFCC reconstruction with partial ECU tendon combined with the ulnar shortening procedure is an alternative method for chronic TFCC tears with DRUJ instability.