Isolated tears of the triangular fibrocartilage of the wrist: results of partial excision.

Sixteen patients who underwent partial excision of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) to treat chronic wrist pain were studied retrospectively. Eleven patients (69%) had no symptoms at follow-up: Five other patients later underwent distal ulnar resection. All patients over 40 years of age did poorly after the operation. The patients who had no symptoms showed no significant alteration in wrist function after partial excision of the TFC. Removal of a perforated TFC is contraindicated in the presence of radiocarpal or distal radioulnar arthritis.