What You Need To Know About TFCC Injuries

All injuries must be treated properly in order to avoid potential health problems in the future. One type of injury that the average person might not know how to treat is a TFCC sprain or tear.

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) ligament is located on the side of your wrist, just below the pinky finger. Although this ligament is roughly the size of a dime, an injury to the TFCC has the potential to create a lot of problems, so you need to be prepared to identify and treat this type of injury in the future.

Symptoms of a TFCC Injury

The first step in treating a TFCC injury is identifying the problem. The most common symptom is pain on the pinky side of your wrist. You may experience a popping or clicking sensation when bending the wrist when the TFCC ligament is compromised.

Some people also notice swelling, bruising, and inflammation in the wrist when they have injured their TFCC. Any abnormal sensations that affect the movement of your wrist should be checked out by a medical professional.

Diagnosing a TFCC Injury

Your doctor will use a few different approaches to diagnosing your TFCC injury. All appointments will begin with a complete physical examination. The doctor will manually feel for ligament damage. Your wrist will be bent and rotated to check for a range of motion, and your pain level will be assessed.

Some doctors like to order an MRI for any patients experiencing ligament pain since this type of image can reveal a tear in the TFCC ligament. A severe tear will require surgical repair, but a minor tear or strain can be treated at home.

Treating a TFCC Injury

The treatment protocol for a TFCC injury is fairly straightforward. Your doctor will probably recommend that you take a break from any physical activities involving the wrist to give the ligament time to rest and recuperate. Applying ice and taking anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed will help you manage pain and prevent further injury.

A special splint designed to target TFCC injuries will be used to support your wrist throughout the healing process. These splints have unique straps that lift and align the ligaments and bones in your wrist.

Proper healing can occur when wearing a TFCC tear splint, and you will find that the splint can provide you with some much-needed relief from the pain and discomfort of a TFCC injury.