ARTHROSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF WRIST TRIANGULAR FIBROCARTILAGE COMPLEX INJURIES IN THE ATHLETE

Wrist arthroscopy can facilitate early definitive diagnosis of debilit ating soft tissue injuries in athletes. Many such injuries can be trea ted successfully with minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques, redu cing the morbidity associated with surgical exposure and permitting ea rlier return to competition. The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TF CC) is vulnerable to injury from rotational forces or axial load appli ed to the hand. Under arthroscopic control, injuries to the central ar ticular disk can be treated by excision of unstable tissue fragments; peripheral separation of the disk from the dorsal or volar ligaments c an be repaired with sutures to achieve complete healing. Avulsion frac tures from the dorsal ulnar margin of the sigmoid notch of the radius are better treated through a small arthrotomy after initial arthroscop ic evaluation.