TFCC Injury
The triangular fibrocartilage tears from trauma, repeated small injuries or degeneration, causing pain.
This triangular cartilage sits on the little-finger side of the wrist, between the radius, ulna and the eight small carpal bones. It cushions the wrist when you rotate or bend it back and keeps the wrist stable.
Common causes
01
Age-related degeneration
02
Falling on the hand or bending the wrist back
03
Heavy, repetitive wrist use
04
Jobs involving a lot of wrist rotation
Signs to watch for
- Swelling and pain on the little-finger side
- Pain when rotating the wrist or pushing up from the ground
- Pain so severe it's hard to open a bottle or turn a door handle
How we diagnose
X-ray
The basic first test. Further tests may be added for a definite diagnosis.
Ultrasound
Examines the joint while it moves, so problems that appear only in certain positions can be found. Inflamed areas can be treated with guided injections at the same time.
MRI
Shows soft tissue that X-ray cannot, such as muscles, ligaments, discs, cartilage, nerves and blood vessels.
How we treat it
Mild cases can be relieved with medication or injections. Treatment is tailored to the extent of the tear; serious cases may need surgery.
Non-surgical injection therapy
Prolotherapy injects directly into weakened ligaments or tendons to reinforce the fibrous tissue, or a hyaluronic acid injection, a main component of joint fluid, is placed into weakened cartilage.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Used across orthopedics, physical therapy and sports medicine, shockwave therapy aids recovery without surgery or painkillers and suits many conditions that cause acute or chronic pain.
Arthroscopy
Through a minimal incision under about 5 mm, an arthroscope with a tiny camera and special instruments is inserted into the joint. It shows areas that are hard to see on X-ray, allowing accurate diagnosis and treatment at the same time.
When surgery is consideredIf there is no improvement with conservative care, surgery is needed. It is done arthroscopically: after confirming the diagnosis, the tear is trimmed or repaired depending on its pattern.