ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopically-assisted suture anchor repair and transosseous sutures for repair of foveal triangular fibrocartilage complex tears in patients with distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability. METHODS: Sixty patients with triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal detachment associated with DRUJ instability were prospectively recruited and randomized into 2 equal groups-the anchor repair group and the transosseous repair group. The primary outcome was DRUJ function after 2 years, which was assessed by the DRUJ evaluating system. The secondary outcomes were grip strength, visual analog scale for pain, Mayo Modified Wrist ScorePatient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups for any of the outcome measures. Good-to-excellent outcomes (according to the DRUJ evaluation system) were achieved in 27 (90%) patients in the anchor repair group and 26 (86.7%) patients in the transosseous repair group. Fewer complications were observed in the anchor repair group. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques yielded good and comparable outcomes with a lesser incidence of early complications in the anchor repair group. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.
