Analysis of the Arthroscopically Diagnosed Soft-Tissue Injuries Associated With the Distal Radius Fractures

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the frequencies of these soft-tissue injuries and to describe the arthroscopic technique used for their diagnosis.METHODS: The prospective study included 85 patients with operatively treated distal radius fracture. Wrist arthroscopy was used to identify the associated lesions of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), scapholunate ligament (SL) and lunitriquetral ligament (LT), extrinsic ligaments, and chondral lesions.RESULTS: Wrist arthroscopy identified TFCC injury in 72.9%, SL injury in 65.9%, LT injury in 17.7%, extrinsic ligaments in 49.4% and chondral lesion in 30.6% of the patients. 87.1% of the patients had at least one of the major structures injured (TFCC, SL or LT). The presence of the ulnar styloid fractures significantlly correlated with with the associated LT lesion, with the LT lesion type, and with the lesion of both SL and LT ligament. If the distal radius fracture was intraarticular there was no correlation with the finding of any associated soft-tissue lesion.CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of the associated soft-tissue lesions in distal radius fractures is high. Ulnar styloid fracture was identified as risk factor for associated LT lesion, as well as combined lesion of both scapholunate and luntriquetral ligament.