Older patients had an increase in incidental triangular fibrocartilage complex signal abnormalities

SAN FRANCISCO — Results presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting showed older patients experienced an increase in incidental triangular fibrocartilage complex signal abnormalities.

“At the age of 70 [years], over half of patients have signal changes and 90% of them are asymptomatic,” Hersh H. Bendre, BSc, said in his presentation.

Bendre and colleagues reviewed radiology reports and clinical notes of more than 1,100 patients who underwent MRI to identify incidental triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) signal abnormalities.

“We defined an incidental finding as a patient with a TFCC abnormality on MRI and who was asymptomatic, meaning that no history of ulnar-sided wrist pain or no clinical diagnosis or suspicion of a TFCC pathology,” Bendre said in his presentation.

Results showed TFCC signal changes in 37% of asymptomatic patients. Bendre noted a significant association between age and an increased prevalence of signal changes. He added that a suspected ligament tendon or muscle injury unrelated to the TFCC and nonspecific general hand and wrist pain were also independently associated with signal changes.

“What is interesting is that in younger patients below the age of 40 [years], there was nearly equal prevalence between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients; but as age increases, nearly all MRI signal changes are incidentally found,” Bendre said. – by Casey Tingle

 

Reference:

Bendre HH, et al. Paper #19. Presented at: American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting; Sept. 7-9, 2017; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Bendre reports that he has no relevant financial disclosures.