RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of foveal triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears remains difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dynamic computed tomography (CT) of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) has a higher sensitivity in detecting foveal tears of the TFCC when compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A database query identified all patients above the age of 18 years with suspected foveal TFCC injuries who underwent bilateral dynamic CT imaging of the DRUJ, static 3T MRI, and subsequent wrist arthroscopy. All patients had evidence of foveal tenderness on clinical examination. The imaging results were validated with wrist arthroscopy. RESULTS: Twelve patients with a mean age of 31 years (range, 18-53 years) were identified. Eight patients were diagnosed with a complete foveal detachment of the TFCC on wrist arthroscopy. Of the 8 patients with a foveal tear on DRUJ arthroscopy, only 3 had a preoperative physical examination suggestive of DRUJ instability. Magnetic resonance imaging identified foveal injuries in 4 of these 8 patients (sensitivity, 50%), and 3 of these were identified as only partial tears. Dynamic CT identified instability of DRUJ in 6 of 8 patients (sensitivity, 75%). Seven of 8 patients had imaging findings suggestive of a foveal tear when including either MRI or CT imaging (sensitivity, 88%). Of the 4 patients with an intact foveal attachment on arthroscopy, 3 (specificity, 75%) had a stable DRUJ on CT and all 4 (specificity, 100%) had an intact foveal attachment on MRI. CONCLUSION: Sixty-two percent of patients with foveal tears on arthroscopy have a stable DRUJ on clinical examination. When combining MRI and dynamic CT imaging of the DRUJ, the sensitivity of detecting a foveal TFCC tear approaches 88% compared with a gold standard of wrist arthroscopy.
RESUMEN
We report the surgical method and outcomes of a simple arthroscopic-assisted technique of repairing triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) foveal injuries in 12 patients with chronic distal radioulnar joint instability. An ulnar transosseous tunnel was created with its distal exit point located 3 to 4 mm radial to the fovea. A tendon graft was cut into two parts, and both were then passed through the bone tunnel to secure the radioulnar ligament remnants back to the fovea in a 'V' shape configuration. At the final follow-up of 13 to 26 months (average 21), all patients had a reduction of wrist pain, with the mean visual analogue scale dropped from 4.6 to 1.6 out of 10. The distal radioulnar joint was completely stable in nine patients and had improved stability in three patients. The mean Mayo modified wrist scores improved from 72 to 89, and the clinical outcomes were excellent in four patients, good in seven and fair in one. No major surgical complications occurred. This simple arthroscopic one-tunnel transosseous approach is effective for chronic foveal tears of the TFCC with intact radioulnar ligament remnants.Level of evidence: IV.