Return to Activity After Arthroscopically Assisted Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Repair: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Hand surgery

Background:

• The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is crucial for wrist stability.
• TFCC injuries can significantly impair daily activities and athletic performance.
• Arthroscopic repair is a common treatment for TFCC tears.

Approach:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed from inception to August 2021.
• Included studies focused on arthroscopic repair of isolated TFCC injuries.
• Analyzed objective and patient-reported outcome measures.

Key Points:

• 84% of patients returned to preinjury work or sport activities.
• Range of motion (ROM) and grip strength (GS) restored to over 90% of the contralateral side.
• Significant pain reduction and high patient satisfaction (83% excellent/good Mayo Modified Wrist Score).

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic TFCC repair enables a high rate of return to strenuous activities.
• Functional outcomes (ROM, GS) and patient-reported pain/disability show significant improvement.
• Long-term success is established, but specific functional recovery timelines require further investigation.