The Effect of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tear on Wrist Proprioception

Purpose: This study examined the influence of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) deep fiber tears on wrist proprioception. Methods: The study involved 48 subjects: 24 with deep fiber TFCC tears and 24 with healthy wrists. A specially created sensor measured wrist proprioception in 3 axes of movement. Absolute differences between target and subject-reproduced angles were compared in injured and healthy wrists and in injured and contralateral patient wrists. A greater difference in reproduced angles was deemed to reflect a lesser ability to approximate a target angle. Results: In wrists with TFCC injuries, 40° pronation and 60° pronation showed significantly greater differences between target and subject-reproduced angles compared with those in the control wrists. In wrists with TFCC injuries, 40° pronation demonstrated significantly greater differences between target and subject-reproduced angles than did those in patients’ contralateral wrists. Proportions of outliers with absolute differences greater than 6° were significantly higher in 60° supination and 40° pronation in wrists with TFCC injuries. Conclusions: Deep TFCC fiber detachment may lead to decreased wrist proprioception in 60° and 40° forearm rotation. Clinical relevance: Deep TFCC fiber tear may contribute to decreased wrist rotational positioning sense and may have biomechanical importance in distal radioulnar joint stability.