Prognostic Factors in Open Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Repair

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Hand and Wrist Surgery

Background:

• Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries cause ulnar-sided wrist pain and functional deficits.
• Open TFCC repair aims to alleviate symptoms, but outcomes show considerable variability.
• Identifying predictive factors for pain and function post-surgery is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient, disease, and surgical factors influencing pain and functional outcomes 12 months after open TFCC repair.
• To establish correlations between preoperative status and postoperative results in TFCC injury patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 274 patients undergoing open TFCC repair between 2011 and 2018 were analyzed.
• Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaires were administered at baseline and 12 months post-surgery.
• Multivariable hierarchical linear regression was employed to analyze prognostic factors.

Main Results:

• Each additional month of symptoms pre-surgery correlated with a 0.14-point increase in the 12-month PRWE total score.
• A 0.28-point increase in the 12-month PRWE total score was observed for each point increase in baseline PRWE score.
• Higher preoperative pain and poorer preoperative function were linked to worse outcomes at 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative pain intensity, functional status, and duration of symptoms are significant predictors of outcomes after open TFCC repair.
• These findings provide valuable data for surgeons to predict patient outcomes and manage expectations.
• Understanding these prognostic factors can help optimize treatment strategies for TFCC injuries.