Guidelines

What is a wrist Arthrogram?

What is a wrist Arthrogram?

An arthrogram uses imaging equipment to evaluate a joint like the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or ankle. It is a two-part procedure consisting of a contrast injection into the joint, followed by an MRI or CT scan of the joint.

How long does it take for triangular fibrocartilage to heal?

TFCC tears that do not require surgery can take as long as 12 weeks to heal. If you have surgery to repair the TFCC, your doctor will prescribe a brace to keep the wrist immobilized for up to six weeks after surgery. A TFCC tear can take as long as three months to heal after surgery.

Can you see TFCC tear on MRI?

Standard MRI can achieve high performance in detection of the TFCC tear. In a recent study, Zlatkin et al. found that the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 92%, 89% and 91% respectively (4).

What can an arthrogram diagnose?

An arthrogram is a test that helps healthcare providers diagnose joint problems, such as hip or shoulder pain. MR arthrograms can show ligament, tendon and cartilage issues with clear detail. You get a special dye injected into your joint before having an MRI scan or other imaging test.

How do I know if my TFCC is torn?

The main symptom of a TFCC tear is pain along the outside of your wrist, though you might also feel pain throughout your entire wrist….Other symptoms of a TFCC tear include:

  1. a clicking or popping sound when you move your wrist.
  2. swelling.
  3. instability.
  4. weakness.
  5. tenderness.

What is a TFCC tear in the wrist?

What is a TFCC tear? A TFCC tear is an injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, soft tissues in the wrist that cushion and support the carpal bones and help stabilize the forearm. Injuries range from mild to severe, but all can disable the wrist.

Can I work after an arthrogram?

Many patients return to work the same day. You may experience some soreness at the injection site for up to 24 hours after your procedure. Your joint area may become more painful than usual beginning 4-6 hours after the arthrogram, but the pain will gradually subside over the next day or two.

What does magnetic resonance imaging of triangular fibrocartilage show?

Imaging 2012;35:764-778. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. AS A COMPLEX COMPOUND (biaxial) joint, essential components of the wrist’s stability, balance, and control functions are found in the interplay of its fine-scale architecture and intricate internal geometry.

Where did the term triangular fibrocartilage come from?

The term “triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist” was first coined by Palmer and Werner in 1981, 1 who described the cartilaginous and ligamentous structures that bridge the distal radius and ulna, providing articulation with the adjacent lunate and triquetrum.

Is it possible to diagnose wrist fibrocartilage?

Due to their small size and complex structure, diagnosing injury of the proximal wrist ligamentous structures can be challenging.

How does the triangular fibrocartilaginous complex ( TFCC ) work?

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) serves to stabilize the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) by acting as cushion for the ulnar head and lunate during the axial loading of the wrist and ulnar deviation of the wrist (1 – 3). It also limits ulnar deviation of the carpus (4).