The TFCC — or Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex — is a small but important structure on the ulnar side of your wrist, sitting between the end of your forearm and the small bones of the wrist on the pinky side. It acts as a cushion, a stabilizer, and a load distributor all at once. When it's healthy, you don't notice it. When it's injured, almost everything involving your wrist — turning a doorknob, pushing up from a chair, bearing weight through your hand — can become painful.
What is a TFCC tear?
A TFCC tear is an injury to that cartilage and ligament complex, usually from a fall on an outstretched hand, a sudden twisting force, or repetitive loading over time. There are two types: traumatic tears (from a single incident) and degenerative tears (from wear and tear, more common as we age). Both can cause pain, weakness, and instability — and both respond well to the right kind of rehabilitation. The classic symptom is pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, often made worse by forearm rotation or bearing weight, and sometimes accompanied by a clicking or clunking sensation.
