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J Wrist Surg 2025; 14(01): 027-033
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776002
Scientific Article

Arthroscopic Examination of the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex in Galeazzi Injuries: Revisiting a Complex Injury

Muntasir Mannan Choudhury 
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
,
Sandip Singh Saggi
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
,
Sze Ryn Chung
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
,
Robert Tze Jin Yap
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
,
Dawn Sinn Yii Chia
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
,
Jackson Kian Hong Jiang
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
,
Andrew Yuan Hui Chin
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
2   Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
3   SingHealth Duke-NUS Musculoskeletal Sciences ACP, Singapore, Singapore
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Galeazzi fracture-dislocations result from severe trauma and can lead to loss of function of the wrist and forearm if not treated appropriately. To avoid such disasters, meticulous surgical management of the injury is necessary. The current literature talks about symptomatic distal radioulnar joint injuries in Galeazzi fracture-dislocations and the various approaches to managing instability. However, unfortunately, there is a dearth of data on the true incidence of injury to the triangular fibrocartilage in the backdrop of the severity of the mechanism of Galeazzi fractures and the damage it may cause as direct inspection of the triangular fibrocartilage complex is not done routinely as a part of management of such cases. We conducted a retrospective review of six consecutive patients with Galeazzi fracture-dislocations. Wrist arthroscopy was performed in these cases, which revealed complex tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex involving large segments of the ligament and always involving the dorsal periphery. All tears followed the same pattern of disruption of the attachments of two sides of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. We believe our findings will pave the path to further prospective studies in understanding the degree of damage in the triangular fibrocartilage in such devastating injuries and the need for meticulous arthroscopic repair.

Keywords

Galeazzi - arthroscopy - triangular fibrocartilage complex - tears


Publication History

Received: 06 June 2023

Accepted: 12 September 2023

Article published online:
22 November 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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