TFCC, DRUJ Instability, and Ulnar Variance on MRI and CT
Assess TFCC tears, distal radioulnar joint instability, and ulnar variance using MRI, standardized CT, and side-to-side comparison.
RadPhrases Editorial Team2 min de lectura
In ulnar-sided wrist pain, a TFCC lesion and distal radioulnar joint instability are not the same finding. MRI depicts the disc, foveal and styloid attachments, and associated bone and tendon abnormalities. CT helps assess radius-ulna alignment, particularly with contralateral and standardized forearm-position comparisons.
DRUJ translation changes with forearm rotation, and small side-to-side differences occur in asymptomatic people. Do not diagnose subluxation from one axial image. Joint surfaces, sigmoid-notch morphology, clinical instability, and standardized positioning must be considered together.
Assessment framework
- Measure ulnar variance on an appropriately positioned neutral-rotation PA radiograph.