Anatomical analysis of the triangular fibrocartilage complex

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18489
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Shiro 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 非常勤講師 (50834701)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: TFCC / distal ulna

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the morphological features of the distal ulna of cadaveric wrists using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We histologically and macroscopically analyzed specimens to examine the attachment of the radioulnar ligaments to the styloid process. Micro-CT images revealed that the cortical thickness of the dorsoradial quadrant was thicker than that of the other quadrant at the proximal slice of the styloid process, and that of the dorsoulnar and ulnopalmar quadrants at the middle slice. Histological analyses showed that the radioulnar ligaments were attached to the middle and distal thirds of the styloid process via chondral-apophyseal entheses. The direction of the fiber was dorsal in the middle third of the styloid process and changed to palmar in the distal third of the styloid process.
The radioulnar ligaments were attached to the dorsoradial ridge of the styloid process, which was confirmed by cortical bone thickening, histology at the attachment sites.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

三角線維軟骨複合体の橈尺靱帯の尺骨茎状突起への付着に関して、本研究のように連続的に解析した既存の研究はなく、その立体構造を明らかにした。橈尺靱帯の付着が尺骨茎状突起の骨形態に影響を及ぼしていることも、新たな知見であった。今回の解析結果から明らかにされた三角線維軟骨複合体の構造は、遠位橈尺関節の背橈側方向と回旋方向への安定性を両立させる上で、合目的なものであった。本研究の結果を踏まえて、三角線維軟骨複合体損傷の病態理解が深まり、新たな治療（解剖学的な修復術）の開発が行われることが、期待される。