Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex: An Anatomical and Medical Illustration Study

Recent advances in small-joint arthroscopy and cutting-edge magnetic resonance imaging systems have enabled orthopedic surgeons to perform more complex repairs of the wrist. Such repairs can include those of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of the wrist that necessitates a reappraisal of its morphometry with special emphasis on the relationship between its articular disc (AD) and surrounding tissues. The TFCC AD is a fibrocartilaginous, biconcave structure located between the ulnar styloid process and the carpal bones of the wrist. We carefully dissected and measured the ADs of 58 wrists from 34 embalmed cadavers (20 females, 14 males) and fabricated three-dimensional biofidelic plastic models of them. Precise measurements of the ADs were taken that included length, width, and thickness at five standardized points. For the entire sample, the mean length and width of left ADs were 18.09 and 9.60 mm, respectively, while right ADs averaged 18.63 mm in length and 9.93 mm in width. Significant differences were found between male and female ADs on the right and left sides (p < 0.05). After the data were further analyzed and casts fabricated, a medical illustrator created novel anatomical illustrations to clarify structures that form the TFCC and help illuminate its complex anatomy. Our study provides valuable morphometric data of the AD and detailed novel medical illustrations of the entire TFCC, enhancing our understanding of its morphology for both educational and clinical applications.