ARTHROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF INTRAARTICULAR SOFT-TISSUE INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH DISTAL RADIAL FRACTURES

Arthroscopy was used to assess the soft tissue injuries associated wit h distal radial fractures in 118 acute intra-and extra-articular fract ures. The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) was torn in 46 of 1 18 patients--in 35% of intra-articular fractures and in 53% of extra-a rticular fractures. No correlation between ulnar styloid fractures and TFCC injuries could be found. Scapholunate (SL) ligament injuries wit h instability were present in 21.5% of intraarticular fractures and in 6.7% of extra-articular fractures. Lunotriquetral (LT) ligament injur ies with instability were present in 6.7% of intra-articular fractures and in 13.3% oi extra-articular fractures. Combined SL and LT injurie s were present in 5.6% of intra-articular fracture. Preoperative radio graphs correlated with TFCC injury. Patients with TFCC tears had great er shortening and dorsal angulation on the preoperative radiographs. P reoperative radiographs had no predictive value for interosseous ligam ent injury. Ligamentous injuries are commonly associated with both int ra-articular and extra-articular distal radial fractures.