WristWidget® (Black Adjustable Wrist Brace for TFCC Tears, One Size fits most. For Left and Right Wrists, Support for Weight Bearing Strain, Exercise

Product Information

In many cases, a TFCC tear will heal on its own. However, a person will need to avoid using the affected wrist to prevent further injury and to allow it to heal properly. If your TFCC tear is severe, you might have to undergo surgery. See a hand surgeon if you think you fall into this category. Possible Complications Initially, a traction of the radiocarpal and the midcarpal joints can be used to determine whether this provokes pain. [31] [32] The chances of a TFCC tear increases as you get older. It’s not common in people under 30 years old, but it affects about half of those over 70 years old. If you have preexisting conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or gout, you're at high risk of a TFCC tear. You’re also more likely to tear your TFCC if your ulna bone is longer than your radius bone. Your TFCC is thinner here and can tear easily. Symptoms

TFCC injuries can be acute or chronic. ‌Acute injuries are one-time instances resulting from a specific instance. Chronic injuries are ongoing and happen because of wear and tear on the wrist. Some types of splints will help stabilise the wrist, which will lead to an improvement in hand function. [17]During an arthroscopy, a surgeon will make a number of small incisions on the outer edge of the wrist, which allows them to repair the damage to the TFCC. Sometimes, they may also shorten the ulna to alleviate symptoms. The Body Helix TFCC Wrist Brace is the best brace for TFCC tear injuries. It is specific to TFCC degeneration and tears. It will not help with other wrist injuries which may require a different sleeve or wrap.

The rehabilitation program should consist of rest, activity modification to remove the inciting force of injury, ice application and splint immobilisation for 3 to 6 weeks Supination test: Patient grabs the underside of a table with the forearms supinated; this causes a load on the TFCC and dorsal impingement, which will cause pain if there is a peripheral, dorsal tear. More recently Atzei 16 and colleagues have proposed as new classification system for peripheral TFCC tear with algorithm to decide appropriate treatment for each class of peripheral TFCC lesion. Their algorithm of treatment is based on clinical assessment of DRUJ instability by ballottement test classified as negative (stable), mild instability (hard end point, sever instability (soft end point),radiographic presence of ulnar styloid fracture (tip or basilar). The third component in evaluation and classification is by arthroscopy (both radio-carpal and DRUJ) and it findings are summarized according to the following four parameters:TFCC stress test: applying a force across the ulna with the wrist in ulnar deviation reproduces symptoms Hypothenar hammer syndrome: Differentiate because there may be discoloration, fingertip ulcers, or splinter hemorrhages on the fourth or fifth digits. Angiogram may be able to diagnose this condition. A debridement is a surgical option that induces bleeding to stimulate healing. Debridement has beneficial outcomes for central TFCC tears but has been shown to have worse outcomes in degenerative tears or patients with higher positive ulnar variance. Recovery after surgery varies, but typically four to six weeks should be expected for arthroscopy and approximately three months for an open approach. Patients will undergo physical therapy after the procedure. The exact time to begin physical therapy and the length of physical therapy depends on the type of surgery performed and the surgeon’s preference. [2] If you think your TFCC is torn, see a healthcare provider immediately. Other TFCC conditions can have similar symptoms. But a professional can run tests to see if you have a TFCC tear or another TFCC injury. These examinations can include the following:‌

For people with severe or persistent TFCC tears, a doctor may recommend surgery. One surgical option is a type of minimally invasive procedure called an arthroscopy. There are some elements of the history which can occur in conjunction with individual sports, for example, baseball-specific acute injury can be due to forced wrist extension while doing a head-first slide or when a hitter attempts to hit an inside pitch and gets “jammed.” Physical therapy can also be beneficial for some people with TFCC tears. A physical therapist will guide the person through some gentle stretches, exercises, and activity adjustments for the injured wrist that aim to: As with any health concern, it’s always recommended that you consult with your health care provider provider to find out why your wrist hurts and the recommended treatment. Applying ice and taking anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help with the pain and swelling. Resting your hand in a wrist brace or splint is important for healing and can help prevent further injury. Wrist Braces can be worn during the day and at night. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended.

Diagnosing a TFCC Tear

If a healthcare professional decides that you have a TFCC tear, there are a few ways you can help it heal. To relieve your pain, you can do the following: Six months of conservative treatment is reasonable if there is not DRUJ (distal radioulnar joint) instability. [2] Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. The best outcomes with TFCC injuries will occur when other etiologies of ulnar-sided wrist pain are ruled out with initiation of conservative treatment. If your symptoms suggest that you have a TFCC tear then a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging test) is the best type of scan to confirm and assess the diagnosis. An x-ray is a good first test to look for a fracture and to assess the relative length of your wrist bones.