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

Abstract

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. 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). 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. 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.