Arthroscopic Management of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injuries: Clinical Outcomes and Functional Results in a Vietnamese Population.

Abstract

Background: Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries commonly cause ulnar-sided wrist pain, yet reports on arthroscopic management outcomes in Asian populations remain limited.

Objective: This study evaluates clinical outcomes following arthroscopic treatment of TFCC injuries in Vietnamese patients.

Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients (60% female, mean age 32.6±8.6 years) with TFCC injuries treated arthroscopically between January 2021 and December 2022. Preoperative assessment included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain evaluation, Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, physical examination, and MRI. Surgical techniques included debridement (17.5%), capsular repair (57.5%), and transosseous repair (25.0%). Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: Type 1B tears (62.5%) were most common. MRI diagnosis matched intraoperative findings in only 42.5% of cases. Mean VAS pain scores improved from 6.90±1.57 preoperatively to 1.03±1.44 at 6 months (p<0.001). MMWS scores improved from 51.50±12.57 to 88.38±10.15, with 87.5% of patients achieving good or excellent results. DASH scores decreased from 38.73±15.93 to 9.23±8.62 (p<0.001). Complications occurred in 15% of patients, primarily transient ulnar nerve symptoms. No significant outcome differences were observed between surgical techniques. Patient satisfaction was high (92.5%).

Conclusion: Arthroscopic management of TFCC injuries in Vietnamese patients demonstrates excellent short-term outcomes regardless of surgical technique. The discrepancy between MRI and arthroscopic findings highlights the importance of thorough arthroscopic evaluation.