TFCC Diagnosis & Tests
A TFCC injury is usually diagnosed by combining your symptoms with specific clinical tests. Imaging can help, but many TFCC problems are identified through a careful hands-on exam.
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How TFCC injuries are assessed
A clinician will typically assess:
- Where the pain is located (ulnar/pinky side of the wrist)
- Pain with rotation (turning a key, opening jars)
- Clicking, catching, or a sense of instability
- Pain during pushing / weight bearing
- Grip strength and tolerance to load
Common clinical tests
These tests are typically performed by a hand therapist or physician. A positive test does not always mean a tear — it helps narrow down the cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain.
TFCC Load Test (Ulnar-sided compression)
The wrist is gently compressed and moved while the clinician looks for pain or clicking on the ulnar side.
DRUJ stability test
Fovea sign
Tenderness in the “fovea” (a small spot between the ulnar styloid and the flexor tendon) can indicate TFCC involvement.
Weight Bearing Test
A practical self-test that compares weight bearing without support vs. with support.
Imaging: when is it useful?
Imaging may be used to confirm findings or rule out other causes:
- X-ray: looks at bone alignment and ulnar variance (not TFCC itself)
- MRI: can show TFCC changes, but small tears are sometimes missed
- MR-arthrogram: may improve sensitivity for certain tears
Imaging should be interpreted together with clinical findings.
When to seek professional assessment
- Pain persists longer than 2–3 weeks despite rest and activity modification
- Clicking/catching with pain
- Clear loss of function (pushing, lifting, rotation)
- A significant difference between “with support” vs. “without support” on the Weight Bearing Test
If support improves your function, a WristWidget® can help you stay active while you recover — without restricting wrist motion.
