Non-surgical intervention for TFCC tears: a case study

Injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist results in decreased functional use of the hand. The current literature supports the use of conservative management as the initial treatment option, followed by surgery if conservative management has failed to increase upper extremity function.However, after conservative management has failed, the only option for regaining full functional use of the hand in subjects with an injury to the TFCC is surgery. This case study demonstrates the first described alternative to the surgical management of TFCC injuries after conservative treatment has failed.  

The subject of this study increased his weight bearing tolerance immediately after donning the brace for the first time. During the 12 weeks of this study, the subject had functional use of his hand. Examining the time course of intervention with the brace revealed a slow steady increase in weight bearing tolerance.  During this time, the subject continued with the recommended wearing schedule, and did not use additional medication or therapy.

After only 12 weeks of intervention with the brace this subject’s DASH outcome scores were consistent with a significant increase of function. After this time, he was able to return to all pre-morbid functional activities without the use of the brace and was completely asymptomatic. 

> From: Barlow, Physiother Res Int (2016) (Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Click here for the online summary.