Evaluation of chronic wrist pain: Arthroscopy superior to arthrography: Comparison in 39 patients

Abstract

39 patients with chronic wrist pain underwent arthrography and arthroscopy to reveal disruptions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and/or interosseous ligaments. TFCC disruption was diagnosed arthroscopically in 15 cases of which arthrography revealed the disruption in only 7. in 3 other patients, arthrography showed rupture of the TFCC: however, arthroscopy showed no defects. Rupture of an interosseous ligament was diagnosed arthroscopically in 6 patients in all of whom it was also revealed by arthrography. in 6 other patients, arthrography showed disruption of an interosseous ligament not verified by arthroscopy.

We conclude that arthroscopy is superior to arthrography for diagnosing chronic wrist pain.