A Comparative Study between Conservative and Surgical Treatments of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury of the Wrist with Distal Radius Fractures

BACKGROUND: Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury is common in distal radius fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the conservative and surgical treatments of TFCC injury of the wrist associated with distal radius fractures. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 39 patients who received treatment for TFCC injury with distal radius fractures. All patients were treated using a volar locking plate for distal radius fractures. Twenty-six patients who received conservative treatment for TFCC through long arm splinting were classified into group 1, and 13 patients who received surgical treatment for TFCC were classified into group 2. The splint was maintained for 6 weeks in both groups. For clinical evaluation, the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist joint, patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, and grip strength were measured. Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) stability was evaluated through a stress load test and graded between grade 0 and 3 intraoperatively after fixation and at the final follow-up. RESULTS: In group 1, the average DASH score was 11.1 ± 4.4, the average PRWE score was 10.2 ± 4.6, the grip strength was 89.4% relative to the unaffected side, the average ROM of the wrist joint was 65° ± 7.0° for extension, 51.5° ± 8.1° for flexion, 86° ± 5.1° for supination, and 85° ± 5.2° for pronation, and DRUJ stability at the final follow-up was grade 0 in 58.62%, grade 1 in 31.03%, grade 2 in 10.34%, and grade 3 in 0%. In group 2, the average DASH score was 13 ± 5.0, the average PRWE score was 12.4 ± 3.7, the grip strength was 87.3% relative to the unaffected side, and the average ROM of the wrist joint was 60° ± 9.8° for extension, 53.1° ± 7.0° for flexion, 85° ± 5.3° for supination, and 86.8° ± 4.5° for pronation. At the final follow-up, DRUJ stability was grade 0 in 66.67%, grade 1 in 25%, grade 2 in 8.3%, and grade 3 in 0%. The 2 groups showed no statistically significant differences in DASH score, PREW score, grip strength, ROM, and final follow-up DRUJ stability. CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes between the surgical and conservative treatment groups. Therefore, when normal radiological indices are achieved after treatment of distal radius fractures, DRUJ stability can be obtained by conservative treatment.