Comprehensive Management of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury: From Conservative Treatment to Surgical Intervention

Abstract

Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury is a common cause of ulnar wrist pain and distal radioulnar joint instability, severely affecting patients' grip strength and daily function. Currently, diagnosis relies primarily on clinical assessment combined with imaging examinations, including X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and arthrography. However, these methods still have limitations in sensitivity and specificity, while wrist arthroscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment strategies need to be individualized based on Palmer classification and joint stability. Arthroscopic techniques have become the mainstream treatment method, including debridement, suture repair, insertion point reconstruction, and Wafer procedure. Among these, the Wafer procedure combined with TFCC insertion point reconstruction has shown good efficacy in treating complex injuries complicated by ulnar impingement. In recent years, biological therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection have gained increasing attention due to their potential to promote tissue repair, and the application of radiomics and artificial intelligence has also provided new directions for precision diagnosis. This article reviews the progress in the treatment of TFCC injuries, aiming to provide a reference for individualized and precise clinical treatment to optimize wrist joint function recovery.