Arthroscopic repair of Palmer 1B triangular fibrocartilage complex tears.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this retrospective study was to determine functional and subjective outcomes of patients with Palmer type 1B tears repaired arthroscopically and to investigate whether clinical outcomes are related to ulna length.


METHODS
Forty-six patients with arthroscopic repair of Palmer type 1B tears were reviewed. There were 23 males and 23 females. The average age was 34 years (range, 10 to 58 yrs). The average follow-up was 11 months (range, 6 to 23 mos), and the delay to surgery was 9.7 months. All patients suffered ulnar-sided wrist pain and were diagnosed with Palmer type 1B tears. The tear was repaired arthroscopically with an inside-outside suture technique. The range of motion (ROM), grip strength, pain, wrist score (modified Mayo wrist score), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) score, and ulna length (static and dynamic) were evaluated.


RESULTS
There was a reduction in pain and an improvement in grip strength. Postoperative ROM averaged 128 degrees +/- 23 degrees for the extension/flexion arc, 41 degrees +/- 11 degrees for the radial/ulnar deviation arc, and 171 degrees +/- 19 degrees for the pronation/supination arc of motion. However, no relation could be found between ulna length and clinical outcome. The modified Mayo wrist score was rated excellent in 22% of patients, good in 41%, fair in 27%, and poor in 10%. The average DASH score was 21.70 +/- 17.17 (range, 0 to 58.33).


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic repair of Palmer type 1B tears yields satisfactory results. Sixty-three percent of patients achieved good to excellent results, experienced increased ROM, grip strength, and pain relief. Ulnar neutral or positive variance is not a contraindication for suture repair and does not require simultaneous ulna shortening when repairing the triangular fibrocartilage complex arthroscopically. A delay to surgery did not affect clinical outcome.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Reiter
Andreas
A
Department of Handsurgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Wolf
Maya Barbara
MB
Schmid
Urs
U
Frigge
Anatol
A
Dreyhaupt
Jens
J
Hahn
Peter
P
Unglaub
Frank
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013484:Supination; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051478:Triangular Fibrocartilage / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult