Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of dorsal radiocarpal ligament
(DRCL) tears in patients who underwent wrist arthroscopy for chronic pain. Methods: A chart review was performed of 64 patients who underwent diagnostic wrist arthroscopy
for wrist pain. Interosseous ligament instability/tears were graded according to the
Geissler classification. Tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and
other intracarpal pathology were documented. Any DRCL tears were noted. Results: The average duration of wrist pain before arthroscopy was 20 months. There were 35
of 64 patients with DRCL tears. The average duration of wrist pain before treatment
was 20 months (range, 4 to 60 months). There were 5 patients who had an isolated DRCL
tear. Thirteen patients in this series had a scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL)
derangement; 7 of 13 also had a DRCL tear. Seven patients had a lunotriquetral interosseous
ligament (LTIL) derangement; 2 of 7 also had a DRCL tear. Two patients had a capitohamate
ligament tear; 1 of these patients also had a DRCL tear. There were 7 patients with
a solitary TFCC tear; 6 of 7 were in association with a DRCL tear. One patient had
a chronic ulnar styloid nonunion and a DRCL tear. Two or more lesions were present
in 23 patients; DRCL tears were present in 12 of 23 patients. Three patients had generalized
arthrofibrosis; 1 had a volar ganglion and 2 had a normal examination. None of these
were associated with DRCL tears. Conclusions: DRCL tears are commonly seen with injuries to the SLIL, the LTIL, and the TFCC. Isolated
DRCL tears should be treated with an arthroscopic repair. DRCL repairs in the presence
of other intracarpal pathologies requires further study. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 28, 2008
Footnotes
The author reports no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
