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Clinical, functional and prognostic results after repair of peripheral lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex: a retrospective study of 21 patients

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology volume 31, pages 557–562 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives

The main objective of this study was to assess the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic TFCC repair in patients with an isolated Atzei type 1, 2 or 3 lesion or after a distal radius fracture. The secondary objective was to identify which factors could contribute to poor functional outcome.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from November 2017 to May 2019. The inclusion criteria were patients with an Atzei type 1, 2 or 3 TFCC lesion who underwent arthroscopic repair and with a minimum of 6-month follow-up. Wrist motion, grip and pronation–supination strength were noted. QuickDASH, MMWS and PRWE scores were performed. An analysis was conducted to search for poor outcomes predictive factors (MMWS < 80).

Results

Twenty-one patients were included with a mean follow-up of 26 months. Seventeen patients (80%) had an Atzei 1 lesion, one (4.8%) had an Atzei 2, and 3 (14%) had an Atzei 3. Wrist motion significantly decreased compared to contralateral. Only pronation and supination were not significant. Grip strength was 73.4% compared to the contralateral (p = 0.002). Mean PRWE was 29.14 (1.5–70.5), QuickDASH was 30.72 (2.3–70.5), and MMWS was 79.3 (35–100). In all patients with a MMWS ≥ 80, none had lunotriquetral lesions when it was the case for 5 of 9 patients with a MMWS < 80 (p = 0.006). Except a story of workplace injury, no other prognosis factor was significant.

Conclusion

Patients with Atzei 1, 2 or 3 TFCC who underwent arthroscopic repair seem to have good outcomes. However, an associated lunotriquetral lesion appears to worsen the functional prognosis.

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Affiliations

  1. Service de Traumatologie, CHRU Lille Salengro, Avenue professeur Emile Laine, 59037, Lille, France

    Alexandre Cornu, Christophe Chantelot & Marc Saab

  2. Service d’Orthopédie 1, CHRU Lille Salengro, Avenue du professeur Emile Laine, 59037, Lille, France

    Alexandre Cornu, Thomas Amouyel, Christophe Chantelot & Marc Saab

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  1. Alexandre Cornu
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  2. Thomas Amouyel
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  3. Christophe Chantelot
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  4. Marc Saab
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Correspondence to Alexandre Cornu.

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Cornu, A., Amouyel, T., Chantelot, C. et al. Clinical, functional and prognostic results after repair of peripheral lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex: a retrospective study of 21 patients. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 31, 557–562 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-020-02805-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-020-02805-0

Keywords

  • TFCC
  • Lesion
  • Peripheral
  • Triangular
  • Fibrocartilage
  • Arthroscopy
  • Reparation