Arthroscopic foveal reinsertion of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is actually more complex than it appears to be. Arthroscopy of the wrist has helped to better understand the various insertions of this proximal and distal triangular complex and to detect these lesions. The adapted treatment of these lesions made it possible to prevent failures of the conventional arthroscopic reinsertions with the disappearance of the associated distal ulnar instabilities when only a part of the problem was treated.
The healing potential of the TFCC largely depends on its vascularization. This video shows the arthroscopic repair of a peripheral distal tear of the TFCC with the in-out technique.

In this key lecture, Dr. Kebrle covers the principles of TFCC repair.

In this key lecture, Dr. Atzei outlines TFCC tears looking into classification and treatment.

In this key lecture, Dr. Schmelzer-Schmied looks into TFCC reconstruction.

Instability of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) results from injury or laxity of the ligaments responsible for stabilizing the joint. Of note, the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) plays a crucial role in maintaining DRUJ stability. Sometimes, it may be impossible to repair the TFCC due to degenerative changes in the TFCC. In such cases, DRUJ reconstruction is possible provided that there are no arthritic changes in the DRUJ with the use of tendon graft. The aim of this procedure is to reconstruct the ligament and restore function, thus providing multidirectional stability. This procedure uses a tendon graft, preferably the Palmaris Longus (PL), which is woven through trans-osseous tunnels in the distal radius, converging at the fovea through a distal ulnar trans-osseous tunnel.