The Supination Lift Test is used to identify pathology of which structure?

• A. TFCC pathology
• B. Scaphoid fracture
• C. Lunate dislocation
• D. Ulnar collateral ligament injury

Answer: (A)

The Supination Lift Test targets the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), the structure that stabilizes the distal radioulnar and ulnocarpal joints. During the test, the forearm is placed in supination and an axial load is applied through the wrist. If the TFCC is injured or degenerated, this loading stresses the TFCC and the distal radioulnar joint, reproducing ulnar-sided wrist pain and sometimes a sense of instability. That reproducible pain with this specific loading pattern is what makes the test a good indicator of TFCC pathology.

Scaphoid fracture would more likely show tenderness in the anatomic snuffbox and pain with axial loading under different wrist positions; lunate dislocation presents with acute carpal instability and dramatic swelling; an ulnar collateral ligament injury (typically the thumb UCL or, less commonly, wrist ligaments) is identified with different maneuvers focused on those ligaments.