Disparities in Hand Surgery Exist in Unexpected Populations

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Carpal tunnel release (CTR) and trigger finger release (TFR) are common procedures.
• Investigating patient population and outcome disparities is crucial for equitable care.
• Social determinants of health may influence surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate disparities in patient demographics and outcomes between CTR and TFR.
• To analyze the impact of social vulnerability and patient characteristics on functional recovery.
• To identify specific patient groups experiencing worse outcomes after these common hand surgeries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 777 CTR and 395 TFR patients (May 2021-August 2022).
• Utilized QuickDASH scores to assess physical function preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.
• Analyzed data based on demographics, zip code social vulnerability, and procedure type.

Main Results:

• TFR patients had higher social vulnerability scores in 'household composition/disability' and 'minority status/language' compared to CTR.
• Preoperative, 1-month, and 3-month QuickDASH scores were significantly higher for non-married and White patients undergoing CTR.
• Female patients also showed significantly higher QuickDASH scores at all postoperative time points for CTR and at 1 month for TFR.

Conclusions:

• Marital status, sex, and race are associated with disparities in physical function after CTR and TFR.
• These demographic factors significantly influence pre- and postoperative functional outcomes.
• Further research is needed to confirm these findings and develop targeted interventions to address health disparities.