WRIST ARTHROSCOPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF LIGAMENT AND TRIANGULAR FIBROCARTILAGE COMPLEX INJURIES

The use of arthroscopy was evaluated in 47 patients who were treated f or suspected triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears, scapholun ate (SL) tears, and/or lunotriquetral (LT) tears. Wrist arthroscopy wa s performed using traction and standard portals. Any TFCC tear found w as debrided to a stable rim. SL and LT tears were debrided to bleeding bone. The range of follow-up was 1.5 to 50 months (average, 15.4 mont hs). Patient grading was determined usin the Mayo Modified Wrist Score . For the 28 patients with TFCC tears, the results were excellent in 1 3, good in 8, fair in 2, and poor in 5. For the 23 patients with SL te ars, the results were 11, 9, 1, and 2, respectively. Of the 5 patients with LT tears, 1 result was excellent, and 4 were poor. Workers compe nsation did not affect results. Arthroscopic debridement of SL and TFC C tears has proven effective. Debridement of LT tears has not been as successful. Based on our results, we feel that arthroscopic debridemen t of SL and TFCC tears is warranted.