Don't wait any longer to find relief for your TFCC tears.
The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) consists of a structure of ligaments and cartilage located on the “pinky finger” side of your wrist, the ulnar side. The TFCC connects the two forearm bones (ulna and radius) at the base of the hand and attaches them to the wrist bones.
This network of links keeps the forearm bones in place during movement, provides stability to the wrist joints, and enables wrist and hand movements such as gripping objects.
The TFCC is also a load-bearing structure, meaning that it is frequently used in movements and is constantly under stress. While the triangular fibrocartilage complex allows the wrist to bend in 6 different directions and ensures that your arms can carry weights properly, its load-bearing nature makes it particularly susceptible to tears and other injuries.
Tears that occur in the TFCC can lead to pain, inhibited wrist function, and loss of grip strength. This condition may develop over time or be the result of a traumatic injury. Below, we’ll look at the common causes of TFCC tears.
Traumatic TFCC tears usually occur when the wrist over-rotates while bearing weight, thus stretching the ligaments and tendons beyond capacity. This can happen when falling or landing on your wrist or when twisting your arm while catching something. TFCC tears may also be a complication of fractures at the end of the forearm bones, such as the radius.
Sports and occupational activities that involve putting heavy loads on the wrist during swinging motions may accelerate the degeneration of the TFCC components, thus making tears more likely. In particular, baseball and tennis players are at high risk of chronic TFCC injuries and wrist pain.
The risk of developing TFCC tears increases with age and, according to a 2014 study, nearly 50% of people aged 70 and over are affected by this condition. This is because, with age, the tissues in the TFCC – such as tendons, cartilage, and ligaments – get thinner and less elastic, making them more prone to tearing. Degenerative TFCC tears are often chronic and tend to recur often.
Some chronic conditions and congenital malformations of the wrist can increase the risk of developing TFCC tears. These include inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, which accelerate the degeneration of cartilage and alter the joint’s function.
You may also be at risk of TFCC tears if one of your forearm’s bones (the ulna) is longer than the other (the radius), thus causing the TFCC to stretch thin and become more susceptible to tears.
TFCC tears can be chronic or acute. Acute TFCC tears are known as type 1 TFCC tears and are usually the result of traumatic injuries or direct blows to the wrist. Chronic TFCC tears, known as type 2 TFCC tears, are often a complication of degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, and require continuous wrist care and lifestyle modifications.
The symptoms of TFCC tears depend on the severity of the injury, as well as what’s causing it. Below, we’ll look at the telltale signs that you are dealing with a TFCC tear.
Although some TFCC tears, especially minor ones, are asymptomatic, one of the most common symptoms of this condition is pain. Painful sensations localize on the ulnar side of the wrist – or the outer, “pinky finger” side – and begin to spread through the forearm. The pain may make wrist movements and picking up objects more difficult.
If one or more of the components of the TFCC is torn or sprained, the ligaments and tendons that connect the bones in the wrist’s joints won’t be able to keep your wrist stable. This leads to a sense of instability, especially when rotating your wrist, gripping, or lifting objects.
Patients with TFCC tears report a loss of grip strength of up to 50%. This is because the ligaments that attach bone to bone, as well as the tendons that link bones to muscles, are unable to support the movement of the hand muscles when damaged.
A severely torn TFCC is often accompanied by popping or clicking noises, which are especially noticeable when rotating your wrist or arm. These noises are due to the fact that, when torn, the ligaments and tendons in the TFCC tear don’t move as they should and slap from one bony surface to another during motion.
You may also experience a loud “pop” at the time of injury if one of the components of the TFCC is completely torn due to trauma.
TFCC tears can significantly reduce your wrist’s range of motion. Firstly, the pain may make movements more painful and undesirable. Additionally, ligament and tendon tears are often accompanied by inflammation, and subsequent swelling and stiffness, which can prevent you from fully rotating the wrist.
TFCC tears can be chronic or acute. Acute TFCC tears are known as type 1 TFCC tears and are usually the result of traumatic injuries or direct blows to the wrist. Chronic TFCC tears, known as type 2 TFCC tears, are often a complication of degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, and require continuous wrist care and lifestyle modifications.
The symptoms of TFCC tears depend on the severity of the injury, as well as what’s causing it. Below, we’ll look at the telltale signs that you are dealing with a TFCC tear.
Although some TFCC tears, especially minor ones, are asymptomatic, one of the most common symptoms of this condition is pain. Painful sensations localize on the ulnar side of the wrist – or the outer, “pinky finger” side – and begin to spread through the forearm. The pain may make wrist movements and picking up objects more difficult.
If one or more of the components of the TFCC is torn or sprained, the ligaments and tendons that connect the bones in the wrist’s joints won’t be able to keep your wrist stable. This leads to a sense of instability, especially when rotating your wrist, gripping, or lifting objects.
Patients with TFCC tears report a loss of grip strength of up to 50%. This is because the ligaments that attach bone to bone, as well as the tendons that link bones to muscles, are unable to support the movement of the hand muscles when damaged.
A severely torn TFCC is often accompanied by popping or clicking noises, which are especially noticeable when rotating your wrist or arm. These noises are due to the fact that, when torn, the ligaments and tendons in the TFCC tear don’t move as they should and slap from one bony surface to another during motion.
You may also experience a loud “pop” at the time of injury if one of the components of the TFCC is completely torn due to trauma.
TFCC tears can significantly reduce your wrist’s range of motion. Firstly, the pain may make movements more painful and undesirable. Additionally, ligament and tendon tears are often accompanied by inflammation, and subsequent swelling and stiffness, which can prevent you from fully rotating the wrist.
Minor TFCC tears may heal on their own. However, when left untreated, these injuries may lead to severe chronic pain, inability to move your hand, and long-lasting wrist instability.
When it comes down to treating TFCC tears, patients are recommended to modify their lifestyle to avoid aggravating the pain, immobilize their wrists, and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In some cases, corticosteroid injections or open surgery may be suggested.
However, TFCC tears may take 12 months or longer to heal and, in some cases, they may become a lifelong condition. This means that, while painkillers and at-home remedies may work in the short term, they cannot be considered long-term sustainable solutions.
Fortunately, advances in regenerative medicine are providing patients with an alternative treatment option: regenerative orthopedics. These therapies are a drug-free and non-invasive option that does not come with the side effects of drugs or the long rehabilitation periods of surgery. Below, we’ll look at how Orthagenex combines high-dose PRP and high-dose BMA therapies to offer patients with TFCC tears ad hoc treatment programs.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) refers to autologous blood samples that have been processed to have platelet concentrations that are 10-40 times higher than baseline levels. The use of PRP in regenerative medicine has received significant interest, due to its ability to deliver high concentrations of growth factors precisely and non-invasively to an area in need.
PRP procedures involve injecting the body’s own healing factors (platelets) into the injured tissue using image guidance with fluoroscopy and MSK ultrasound. This procedure can be used to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions, including joint instability, minor arthritis, ligament, and tendon injuries, and strains.
More than 30 randomized controlled trials have been carried out on the effectiveness of PRP to support the body’s ability to heal naturally by stimulating the stem cells within the targeted area.
Stem cells are an essential component of the human body and play an important role in the repair of injured bones, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues. However, when we age or suffer an injury, the body may become unable to deliver enough stem cells to the area in need.
To help with this, bone marrow concentrate procedures at Orthagenex use imaging guidance to deliver concentrated bone marrow containing stem cells to the area in need. This encourages the body’s inherent ability to heal itself by replenishing the stem cell population in the injured area.
In practice, bone marrow concentrate procedures are carried out by cannulating the bone near the pelvis with a trocar, a sharp-tipped device. This provides a narrow tunnel that can be used to collect samples of the bone marrow’s liquid component, which is rich in stem cells.
BMC procedures can assist patients in improving their orthopedic health and mobility without the lengthy and painful rehabilitation periods associated with surgery.
TFCC tears are a common problem among aging adults and athletes. But a torn TFCC does not have to translate into chronic pain, taking medications daily, or leaving behind activities that you love.
Thanks to the research-based approach provided at Orthagenex, you can restore your wrist’s health and stability without surgery.
Learn more about regenerative treatment options for your TFCC tears.
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