Triangular fibrocartilage tears.

From a series of 56 patients with triangular fibrocartilage injury, 33 patients with peripheral rim tears not associated with instability of the distal radioulnar joint were identified by arthrography or arthroscopy. Open repair of the peripheral tear produced 11 excellent, 15 good, 6 fair, and 1 poor result (grading based on a Mayo modified Green-O'Brien wrist score). Ulnar recession improved surgical exposure and corrected ulnar variance in 11 patients. A dorsal approach for repair of radial and anterior peripheral rim tears was used in 28 patients. Repair of peripheral tears restored functional integrity to the triangular fibrocartilage, and good to excellent results are reported in 26 of the patients treated.