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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Finger and Thumb Dislocations

A finger or thumb joint knocked out of place, usually by a ball or a fall. Reduced promptly, then protected so the ligaments heal and the joint stays stable.
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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

TFCC Tear

A tear of the cartilage and ligament complex on the small-finger side of the wrist, causing pain with twisting and weight bearing. From a fall or from years of load.
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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Congenital Hand Conditions

Hand differences present from birth, from trigger thumb and extra or joined fingers to underdeveloped thumbs. Evaluated early, treated when it improves function.
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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Complex Upper Extremity Trauma

Severe injuries of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow: open fractures, crush and saw injuries, combined bone, tendon and nerve damage, and injuries that need reconstruction.
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ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
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What it is

TFCC Tear

The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a cushion and stabilizer on the small-finger side of the wrist.
It tears with a fall or a forceful twist, and wears with age.It is the wrist equivalent of a meniscus.
Treated by
Toby Johnson, MD, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. JohnsonHand and Upper Extremity
M. Shane Frazier, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. FrazierHand and Upper Extremity
Travis Peterson, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. PetersonHand and Upper Extremity
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
TFCC Tear

Symptoms

Pain on the small-finger side of the wrist with twisting, gripping and pushing up from a chair.Clicking or catching. Weak grip. Swelling over the area.
Turning a doorknob or a key reproduces it.
Common signs
Small-finger side wrist pain
Pain twisting or pushing up
Clicking or catching
Weak grip
See us sooner if
Pain after a fall on the hand
Wrist that clunks
TFCC Tear

Causes

A fall on the outstretched hand with the wrist bent back and rotated, racquet and bat sports, and gymnastics.A forearm bone that is slightly long relative to the other overloads the TFCC over years.Degenerative tears are common after fifty and often painless.
TFCC Tear

How We Diagnose It

Exam reproduces pain with specific loading tests.X-rays check bone length and alignment. MRI, ideally with contrast, shows the tear. Wrist arthroscopy is both the definitive diagnosis and the treatment.The type of tear decides between debridement and repair.Falls and racquet sports bring most TFCC tears to us; wrist arthroscopy is performed locally. Dr. Johnson, Dr. Frazier and Dr. Peterson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Orem Community Hospital.
TFCC Tear

Treatment Options

Splinting, activity changes, anti-inflammatories and an injection resolve many tears over six to twelve weeks.
Persistent tears are treated arthroscopically: central tears are debrided, peripheral tears are repaired. When the forearm bone is too long, shortening it relieves the load.
Your options
Non-surgical
Splinting
Activity changes
Injection
Surgical
Arthroscopic debridement
Repair
Ulnar shortening
Related
Wrist Fracture Repair
Scaphoid Fracture Repair
TFCC Tear

Procedures That Address It

Wrist Fracture Repair
Scaphoid Fracture Repair
TFCC Tear

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Johnson, MD
Weill Cornell graduate, hand fellowship at Allegheny General. Twenty-one years in practice and seventeen as a collegiate team physician.
Dr. Frazier, DO
Fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Seventeen years in practice. Fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Peterson, DO
Hand surgery fellowship at UMass Chan. Office-based, wide-awake carpal tunnel release. Fifteen years in practice. Speaks German.
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
Request an appointment
Find a clinic
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyPrivacy Practices
NondiscriminationAccessibilityGood Faith Estimate