Operative trends and physician treatment costs associated with Dupuytren's disease in Canada

To examine treatment trends and costs associated with Dupuytren's disease (DD) in Canada.

Data regarding fasciectomies, fasciotomies and digit amputations performed for DD from 2005 to 2010 were extracted from the Canadian Institute for Health Information database. The data were analyzed according to year, sex and five-year age groups. The estimated annual physician reimbursement costs for DD in Ontario were calculated using Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing information and the 2010 Physician Schedule of Benefits.

The number and rate of fasciectomies remained stable from 2005 to 2009 (mean of 4067 and 1.24 per 10,000, respectively), but increased in the 2009/2010 fiscal year (to 4458 and 1.32 per 10,000). The number of fasciotomies increased from 133 in 2005/2006 to 201 in 2008/2009, but dropped to 183 in 2009/2010. The mean number of amputations remained stable (12 procedures).The ratio of males to females undergoing fasciectomies remained stable (4:1). The highest rate of fasciectomies was performed for the age groups 65 to 69 years and 70 to 74 years. Estimated mean physician remuneration for DD in Ontario remained stable ($3.2 million per annum).

The results regarding patient demographics are comparable with results from previous literature. There was a trend toward an increasing number of fasciectomies and fasciotomies annually, with fasciotomies increasing faster than fasciectomies, which is reflective of the aging population and the recent attention to fasciotomies in the literature. The present study was the first to investigate treatment trends and physician reimbursement costs for the management of DD in Canada.