Table 1.
Classification and treatment of TFCC tears.3
| Type of tear | Location of tear | Treatment recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Traumatic | ||
| 1A | Tear in horizontal or central portion | Debridement |
| 1B | Tear from distal ulna insertion ± ulnar styloid fracture | Repair |
| 1C | Tear with ulnocarpal ligaments disrupted Tear of ulnolunate and ulnotriquetral ligaments |
Controversial, open repair or reconstruction |
| 1D | Tear from insertion at radius | Repair or debridement |
| Degenerative | ||
| IIA | TFCC wear but no perforation | Scope to confirm that the TFCC is intact, then ulnar shortening |
| IIB | TFCC wear but no perforation; chondromalacia of lunate or ulnar head | Scope to confirm that the TFCC is intact, then ulnar shortening |
| IIC | Central perforation of TFCC Chondromalacia of lunate or ulnar head |
Debridement of the TFCC and wafer procedure Alternative ulnar shortening |
| IID | Central perforation of TFCC; chondromalacia of lunate or ulnar head; perforation of LT ligament | Debridement of the TFCC and LTL, chondroplasty, possibly arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation of LT interval if unstable and/or ulnar shortening |
| IIE | Central perforation of TFCC; perforation of LT ligament; ulnocarpal arthritis | Debridement of joint or open salvage |