The role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of lesions of the ulnocarpal complex.

A prospective study of 32 patients was carried out to investigate the significance of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) lesions. Tears of the TFC can be diagnosed well by means of static MRI and arthroscopy. Dynamic MRI examination has an advantage in evaluating the stability of the TFC and ulnocarpal impingement. By means of dynamic MRI it was possible to make a preoperative diagnosis of an ulnocarpal impingement in five patients, a diagnosis which was confirmed through arthroscopy in all cases. In three further patients, dynamic MRI showed ulnocarpal impingement caused by instability of the ulnar attachment of the TFC. This kind of impingement could not be ascertained arthroscopically. Dynamic MRI extends the possibilities of evaluating obscure ulnar wrist pain. Its significance lies in the non-invasive examination of ulnocarpal impingement as well as the evaluation of TFC stability.