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

Objectives: 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.

Methods: 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).

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.