Dr. Jiwu Chen

Dr. Jiwu Chen
Injuries & conditions TFCC

TFCC injury

Triangular fibrocartilage complex injury (TFCC)

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In plain language

Damage to the ulnar wrist cartilage-ligament complex that supports load transfer and distal radioulnar stability.

01

Clinical Significance & Management

No. Degenerative changes can occur without symptoms. Ulnar-sided tenderness, pain with rotation or loading, and distal radioulnar joint stability help determine the relevance of the finding and treatment.

02

Symptoms & Clinical Presentation

1

Ulnar wrist pain, painful rotation or clicking

03

Etiology & Injury Mechanisms

  • Fall, repeated loading or degeneration
04

Diagnostics & Imaging Guide

Stability examination; MRI or arthroscopy when indicated

05

Treatment Options

Option 1

Protection and rehabilitation for stable injuries; assess surgery for persistent symptoms or instability

06

Rehabilitation Milestones & Timeline

Rehabilitation depends on the diagnosis, procedure and associated injuries. Progression requires assessment of healing, symptoms and function; elapsed time or a single test cannot determine readiness for sport.

Progressive rehabilitation

Progress rotation and grip according to stability and repair

Red Flags & Urgent Warnings

Seek immediate emergency or specialist orthopaedic evaluation if any of the following occur:

Traumatic deformity or impaired hand circulation requires urgent care

07

Evidence-Based Clarifications

Imaging findings must match clinical symptoms.

Sources & References

Educational clinical definitions synthesized from AAOS, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and HSS. Individual diagnosis and surgery require professional medical evaluation.

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