Arthroscopic Management of Triangular Fibrocartilage Tears in the Athlete

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is a composite of soft tissues extending from the distal ulna to the ulnar carpus. This complex is considered to be the primary stabilizer of the distal radioulnar joint. Additionally, the TFCC stabilizes the ulnocarpal joint, distributes load between the ulna and ulnar carpus, and allows wrist motion in multiple planes. Numerous athletic activities place participants at risk for injuries of the TFCC. If the TFCC is disrupted or altered by acute or chronic injury, the wrist is potentially destabilized, progressive arthritic changes may occur, and athletes may suffer chronic ulnar-sided wrist pain, loss of motion, and loss of grip strength. We summarize current methods of diagnosing, imaging, and arthroscopically treating TFCC injuries in the athlete.