Trial Comparing Treatment Strategies in Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Ruptures

Launched by TAMPERE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Sep 29, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at different treatment options for people with a specific wrist injury called a Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) tear. The main goal is to see if a procedure called debridement (which removes damaged tissue) is better than a placebo surgery (a fake surgery) and whether repairing the tear is more effective than physical therapy. Participants will be followed for one year after their treatment to evaluate their wrist function using a special questionnaire.

To join the study, participants need to be at least 18 years old and have had wrist pain on the ulnar side (the side closer to the little finger) for more than three months without improvement from other treatments. They should also be suspected of having a TFCC tear based on a doctor’s examination. However, individuals with certain conditions, such as severe instability of the wrist joint or specific types of TFCC tears, cannot participate. If you choose to be part of this trial, you will be randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups, and your health and recovery will be closely monitored throughout the year.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Ulnar sided wrist pain
• • Age more than 18 years
• • Suspicion of TFCC tear in clinical examination
• • Ability to fill the Danish, Finnish or Swedish versions of questionnaires
• • Symptom duration more than 3 months, and unsuccessful non-operative treatment
• • Central (Palmer 1A), ulnar (Palmer 1B) or radial (Palmer 1D) TFCC tear explaining the pain in arthroscopy
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Gross instability of DRUJ which will be defined as "obvious instability in clinical examination in each forearm and wrist position"
• • Distal (Palmer 1C) TFCC tear in arthroscopy
• • Ulnocarpal or DRUJ arthrosis (Atzei class 5)
• • Ulnar variance ≥ +2 mm in x-ray
• • Age above 65 years
• • Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory disease effecting radio- or ulnocarpal or DRUJ
• • Lunotriquetral instability diagnosed in arthroscopy
• • ECU instability
• • Massive tear and degenerated edges or frayed tear which fails suture (Atzei class 4A-4B)