[Arthroscopic management of recent or chronic lesions of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex of the wrist.]
Lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist (TFCC) have perfectly been dismembered by Andrew Palmer and have largely benefited from progress of arthroscopy of the wrist. One distinguishes thus traumatic lesions (class 1) individualized according to their localization, central (1-A), ulnar (1-B), radial (1-D) or distal (1-C). Central lesions are classically associated to a positive ulnar variance. The clinical symptomatology evokes a meniscal like syndrome of the wrist. In case of failure of the medical treatment, it will be necessary to propose a surgical procedure guided by histopathology of the triangular complex. Thus, ulnar peripheral richly vascularized lesions (1-B) could therefore potentially heal and will have to benefit by an attempt of surgical reattachment (arthroscopic technique of Whipple, Poehling or other techniques) or by an osteosynthesis in case of fracture on the basis on the ulnar styloid process. Central fibrocartilage lesions (1-A) or radial avulsions (1-D) are less vascularized and have therefore little probability to heal; they will benefit then ideally from the endoscopic debridement of unstable flaps of the central portion of TFCC. No immobilization is required and rehabilitation is immediately undertaken. Less frequent class 1-C lesions justify in our practice a simple arthroscopic regularization, alone complete ruptures could have necessitate a direct suture. Class 2 degenerative lesions are graduated (A to E) according to evolution of the chondromalacia of the ulnar head and carpal bone, perforation of the central disc and lunotriquetral ligament degeneration. They are usually associated with a constitutional or an acquired ulnar plus variance syndrome, for example after a distal radius fracture malunion. The clinical symptomatology needs to differentiate them from the simple frequent physiological perforations after the age of 50 years. Arthroscopy will allow to regularize unstable non-vascularized lesions and to perform a wafer procedure through the large hole of the central disc. Alone lesions with very positive ulnar variance or fail of minimally invasive procedures, justify, in our experience, a shortening osteotomy of the ulna.
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Espace médical Vauban, pôle « Main–Épaule et Sport », 2-A, avenue de Ségur, 75007 Paris, France; Institut main et sport, centre médicochirurgical Paris-V, 36, boulevard Saint-Marcel, 75005 Paris, France.