[A study of degenerative changes in the triangular fibrocartilage of the wrist joint]

The present investigator has studied the degenerative changes in the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC), the articular cartilage of the wrist joint, and the carpal interosseous ligament. Moreover, the possibility of the healing of the TFC was examined. The materials were 162 wrist joints obtained from 99 cadavers (5; fresh, 94; preserved) and were studied radiographically, anatomically, pathologically and immunohistochemically. TFC perforation was correlated with ulnar variance. Cartilaginous changes were mainly found around the lunotriquetral interosseous ligament. There was a correlation between the TFC perforation and degenerative changes of the articular cartilage. The pathological finding showed the degenerative changes on the ulnar head side of the TFC, which were much more severe than the carpal side of the TFC. On the other hand, the cartilaginous changes were more severe in the carpal bones than in the distal ulnar head. The finding that central portion of the TFC was found to be avascular, as confirmed by the immunohistochemical method would indicate little possibility of healing of the central portion of the TFC.