If the TFCC surgery is done well and results in full healing of the damaged TFCC, there should not be any long-term side effects. In fact, patients who have received successful treatment with good post-operative hand therapy may regain full strength and motion in the wrist in around 6 months.
Possible complications with unsuccessful surgery include persistent pain and instability in the distal radioulnar joint causing weakness, injury to the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve causing permanent numbness over the region just distal to the surgery scar site, chronic inflammation
(tendinosis) of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon causing pain and swelling, stiffness in the wrist and secondary osteoarthritis at the distal radioulnar joint.
If any of these complications occur, the surgeon may need to perform revision surgeries with prolonged post-operative hand therapy to restore function in the affected hand and wrist.
TFCC surgeries should be performed by an accredited hand surgeon.
