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J Wrist Surg 2024; 13(03): 241-247
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775802
Scientific Article

The Effect of Arthroscopic Triangular Fibrocartilage Repair on Accompanying Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendinitis and Synovitis in Triangular Fibrocartilage Tears

Uğur Bezirgan 
1   Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Yener Yoğun 
1   Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Bedir Özgencil 
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Merve Dursun Savran 
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Aysun Genç 
3   Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Mehmet Armangil 
1   Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Funding The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.
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Abstract

Purpose Management of ulnar-sided wrist pain is difficult due to the complexity of the anatomy and the similarity of the signs and symptoms of possible diagnoses. The study's main purpose is to examine the effect of arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) repair on untreated extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendinitis and synovitis.

Methods Thirteen patients who underwent arthroscopic TFC repair in our clinic and preoperatively demonstrated ECU tendon pathology with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in the retrospective study. Pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), pre- and postoperative tendinitis and synovitis, postoperative Mayo and patient-rated wrist evaluation score, postoperative grip strength of the operated and control sides, short and long diameters of the ECU tendon in ultrasonography were recorded.

Results The mean age of 13 patients (9 females and 4 males) was 39.54 ± 13.54, and the mean follow-up period was 26 ± 7.25 months. While there was no significant difference between pre- and postoperative tendinitis or synovitis levels, VAS decreased significantly (8.46 ± 1.33 vs. 3.00 ± 2.31, p = 0.0016). While the grip strength was 21.78 ± 7.83 on the control side, it was 18.28 ± 7.51 on the surgery side, being significantly lower (p = 0.0252). Ulnar variance did not affect tendinitis or synovitis. Short and long diameters of ECU were similar for the operated and control sides. While the short diameter did not affect the synovitis–tendinitis score, the bigger the long diameter, the higher the synovitis score (rho = 0.5162).

Conclusion In the presence of ECU, tendon pathologies accompanying TFC lesions, additional surgical interventions are mandatory as arthroscopic TFC repair has no significant effect on the healing of ECU.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords

extensor carpi ulnaris - synovitis - tendinitis - triangular fibrocartilage - wrist arthroscopy

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.


Consent for Publish

Patients signed informed consent regarding publishing their data.


Ethics

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ankara University (2022000522).




Publication History

Received: 27 March 2023

Accepted: 05 September 2023

Article published online:
09 October 2023

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