Purpose: Arthroscopic repair is performed for fovea injuries of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) when instability of the distal radioulnar joint results in pain, decreased grip strength, and mechanical symptoms. During TFCC repair, reconstruction of its attachment to the fovea is important. Nonabsorbent suture tapes have gained attention for ligament repair in the trapeziometacarpal joint, scapholunate ligament, and thumb metacarpophalangeal ligament. However, there are no reports of TFCC repair using suture tapes. We evaluated the early postoperative results of this approach.
Methods: Participants underwent arthroscopic suture tape repair of foveal TFCC tears and were observed for more than 1 year. All repairs were performed using suture tapes and an outside-in technique with a bone tunnel from the ulnar shaft to the fovea. The postoperative complications, postoperative wrist range of motion, grip strength, and the Modified Mayo Score were evaluated.
Results: Arthroscopic repair with a suture tape was performed for 20 hands using the outside-in technique. The ranges of motion for the operated and nonoperated hands were comparable 1 year after surgery (pronation, 84° ± 4°; supination, 83° ± 4°). The mean grip strength improved from 65% ± 13% before surgery to 89% ± 9% after a year. The mean Modified Mayo Score improved from 58 ± 11 before surgery to 91 ± 8 after a year. Postoperative complications included abnormal sensation of the dorsal ulnar side in 2 hands.
Conclusions: After using a suture tape to attach the TFCC to the fovea, satisfactory function was achieved in the early postoperative period with grip strength restoration. For the repair of foveal TFCC tears, attachment to the ulnar fovea is important, and repair by a suture tape may be useful.
Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.
Keywords: Bone tunnel; TFCC repair; outside-in repair; suture tape.
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