Al-Ahli Hospital performs wrist pain surgery on tennis player
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) tears are a common source of ulnar-sided wrist pain
SURGEONS at Al-Ahli Hospital’s Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department have performed a minimal invasive surgery for Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) tears successfully.
TFCC tears are a common source of ulnar-sided wrist pain.
Dr Erkki Kivela, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Al-Ahli Hospital, and his team operated on a 35-year-old Qatari tennis player and coach for a TFCC tear, which is common among athletes who regularly rotate or put pressure on their wrists.
Four months after the surgery the tennis player is recovering fast, according to Dr Kivela.
“TFCC is an area between your ulna and wrist bones in the wrist. our TFCC is made of several ligaments and tendons, as well as cartilage cushion. It stabilises your forearm bones and wrist when you grasp something with your hand or rotate your forearm” he said.
“Athletes who regularly rotate or put pressure on their wrists, like in gym exercise, tennis, gymnastics have a higher risk of developing a TFCC tear. To treat the TFCC tear of this patient, we conducted a minimally invasive arthroscopy. During this procedure, we repair the damaged part of TFCC through a few small incisions around your wrist. In some cases, doctors may need traditional open surgery,” he added.
Dr Kivela emphasised that minimally invasive arthroscopy surgery is not commonly available at private hospitals in Qatar.
“We use modern equipment and up-to-date minimally invasive surgical techniques to provide an extensive and fully inclusive service within the Orthopaedic Department”, he said.
Dr Kivela also encouraged individuals with TFCC tear to consult an orthopaedic surgeon and get early treatment.
“Many people are not aware that TFCC can be treated by non-surgical and surgical methods. If resting your wrist and physical therapy don’t provide any relief, you may need surgery to repair the tear,” he pointed out.
Type 1 TFCC tear can be caused by an injury. For example, falling and landing on an outstretched hand can damage the cartilage, tendons, or ligaments in one’s TFCC. The type 2 tear are caused by the slow breakdown of the cartilage in your TFCC, usually due to age or an underlying condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
“ou’re also at a higher risk if you’ve previously injured your wrist,” said Dr Kivela.
Diagnosis of TFCC tear is commonly done by clinical examination. Accuracy of MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) lies between 60 to
0 percent. -rays usually look normal.
“The recovery time for a TFCC tear depends on the type, severity, and treatment of the injury. Following surgery, you’ll need to wear a cast to keep your wrist from moving, usually for about six to eight weeks. Once your cast is removed, you may need physical therapy before your wrist regains its previous strength and function”, said Dr Kivela.
A case study suggests that TFCC tears that do not require surgery can take up to 12 weeks to fully heal. Following surgery, a TFCC tear may take around three to six months to heal completely.