About TFCC Tear:
TFCC or the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex[1] is a cartilaginous structure located around the wrist region which provides support and cushions the carpal bones in the wrist. It also maintains stability of the radius and ulna during grasping and rotating activities of the hands.
Any sort of injury to the TFCC can cause immense pain in the wrists. TFCC tears can be classified as two types, namely type I and type II. Type I TFCC tears are caused due to any trauma to the wrist region such as falling on an outstretched hand or excessive wrist or arm rotation.
Type II TFCC tears are more chronic and occur over a period of time due to degeneration of the ligaments. There are also certain degenerative conditions like arthritis and gout which also can cause a TFCC Tear.
An individual with a history of wrist fractures is also at risk for developing a TFCC tear. There are a lot of treatment options available for treating a TFCC tear both conservative and surgical. The treatment plan is based depending on the severity of the condition and the nature of the tear. This article highlights the recovery period post treatment[3] for an individual with TFCC tear.
How Long Does TFCC Tear Take To Heal?
If the TFCC tear is mild and conservative treatments are good enough to treat it then it may take anywhere from four to six weeks for the TFCC Tear to heal.
For cases where the TFCC tear is severe and surgery is required to fix it then the time taken to heal will be longer. The patient postsurgery will have to undergo intensive physical and occupational therapy to get the motion and strength back of the wrist and then gradually return back to normal activities. This process takes approximately 8 to 10 months or even up to a year before an individual can safely return back to all the normal activities of daily living and work related activities. The more diligent the patient is in therapy the faster will be the recovery time after treatment for a TFCC Tear.
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