Review of Palmer and Werner (1981) on the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist anatomy and function

Abstract

This classic discusses the original publication by Palmer and Werner (1981) on the anatomy and function of a set of soft tissue stabilising the distal radioulnar joint. They labelled this confluent structure the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of the wrist, and concluded that abnormalities were typically degenerative and usually asymptomatic. Eight years later Dr Palmer published a follow-up taking a different perspective. In this article he differentiated between traumatic and degenerative TFCC lesions and outlined surgical treatment for each type. The debate about the diagnosis, interpretation and treatment of TFCC abnormalities today is captured by the contrast between both articles.