Diagnostic Value of High-Resolution Ultrasonography for Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injuries

Objective
To investigate the value of high-resolution ultrasound in the diagnosis of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries.

Methods
Forty-eight patients who underwent wrist arthroscopic surgery for wrist diseases in our hospital were studied and analyzed, including 34 cases of TFCC injury and 14 cases of other wrist diseases with normal TFCC. The TFCC high-resolution ultrasound was performed. Taking the results of arthroscopic exploration as the gold standard, the statistical research was carried out by comparing TFCC ultrasound imaging and arthroscopic manifestations. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of high-resolution ultrasound in the diagnosis of TFCC injury and injury site were obtained.

Results
The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of high-resolution ultrasound in the diagnosis of TFCC injury were 0.9375, 0.875, 7.5, 0.071, 0.9629, 0.9048, 0.9285, 0.95, 10.11 and 0.041 respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of central degenerative perforation of TFCC were 0.9629, 0.9048, 0.9285, 0.95, 10.11 and 0.041 respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of high-resolution ultrasound in the diagnosis of TFCC ulnar insertion injuries were 0.95, 1, 1, 0.9655, +∞ and 0.05 respectively. Conclusion High resolution ultrasound has certain value in the diagnosis of TFCC injury, especially the common clinical TFCC central degenerative perforation and ulnar insertion injuries, which is worthy of further study on its method and diagnostic criteria.