The role of radiocarpal injection arthrography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the radiocarpal joint injection arthrography and magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries.


METHODS
Thirteen cases whose main complaints were ulnar wrist pain were given radiocarpal joint arthrography and eight of them were also given magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating the integrity of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.


RESULTS
Ten of thirteen cases presented the leakage of contrast medium to distal radioulnar joint from the radiocarpal joint, in whom, 8 were demonstrated triangular fibrocartilage tear on magnetic resonance imaging, and 3 located at radial side, 2 at central, 3 at ulnar side. One of three cases which were demonstrated without the leakage of contrast medium in arthrography were displayed with marked TFCC tear on magnetic resonance imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
The wrist arthrography can provide a definite diagnosis for triangular fibrocartilage disruption with higher sensitivity. magnetic resonance imaging not only demonstrates the site of triangular fibrocartilage disruption as the same value as wrist arthrography, but also displays the other related bony and soft tissues changes.
Zhu
Q
Q
Institute of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
Nobuhara
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*
D003287:Contrast Media