Clinical content drawn from Dr. Loredo's TFCC tears condition page · Published 2026-11-04
This one-minute video explains TFCC tears: injuries to the cushion of cartilage and ligaments on the small-finger side of the wrist, the three warning signs worth acting on, and how treatment moves from a splint, rest and hand therapy to wrist arthroscopy, when needed.
Full transcript
Spoken by Sarah, Dr. Loredo's AI education assistant.
Does the small-finger side of your wrist hurt when you turn a doorknob? Hi, I'm Sarah, Dr. Loredo's AI education assistant.
A TFCC tear is an injury to the cushion of cartilage and ligaments on the small-finger side of your wrist.
It can happen with a fall on an outstretched hand, a forceful twist, or gradual wear over time.
Watch for three warning signs. One: deep pain on the small-finger side of the wrist. Two: pain when you grip or turn your forearm.
Three: clicking or popping when you rotate your wrist. Treatment starts with a splint, rest from forceful twisting, and hand therapy.
If those are not enough, surgery, when needed, uses wrist arthroscopy to smooth or repair the tear.
Call (972) 939-4974, or start your forms at loredohand.com. New patients are seen within days.
Questions patients ask
What is a TFCC tear?
A TFCC tear is an injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, a wedge of cartilage and ligaments on the ulnar (small finger) side of the wrist that cushions load and stabilizes the distal radioulnar joint. Tears occur from a single traumatic event such as a fall on an outstretched hand, from a forceful twisting injury, or gradually from chronic load, particularly when the ulna is slightly longer than the radius (ulnar-positive variance).
What are the warning signs of a TFCC tear?
Deep pain on the ulnar (small finger) side of the wrist. Pain that worsens with forearm rotation, gripping, opening jars, turning a doorknob, or other twisting motions. Clicking or popping with rotation. Weakness with twisting or gripping, and in advanced cases a sense of instability at the wrist.
How is a TFCC tear treated?
Treatment usually starts without surgery: a wrist splint or short arm cast for acute traumatic tears without instability, avoiding forceful rotation and gripping, anti-inflammatory medication, a corticosteroid injection in selected cases, and targeted hand therapy. Surgery is considered for tears that fail conservative care, for tears with instability of the distal radioulnar joint, and for chronic ulnar-positive variance with tearing. Dr. Loredo uses outpatient wrist arthroscopy to smooth (debride) central tears or repair peripheral tears, and an ulnar shortening osteotomy when ulnar-positive variance is present. Surgery, when needed, is scheduled at the first available opening after your evaluation.
Who treats TFCC tears near Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth?
Dr. Pedro Loredo, MD, board-certified in General Surgery (American Board of Surgery) and Hand Surgery (American Board of Plastic Surgery), at Loredo Hand Care Institute, 431 E State Hwy 114, Suite 380, Southlake, TX 76092. The practice serves Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Hurst, Bedford, Euless, North Richland Hills, Dallas and Fort Worth. New patients are seen within days. Call (972) 939-4974. Se habla español.
Read the full TFCC tears condition page · Video: carpal tunnel syndrome
If this sounds like your wrist
Call Loredo Hand Care Institute or start your forms online. New patients are seen within days; surgery, when needed, is scheduled at the first available opening. Se habla español.