Prevalence and Characteristics by Age and Sex in Pediatric Trigger Digits: Nationwide Analysis Using Korea Health...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Hand Surgery
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Pediatric trigger digit (TD) is a condition diagnosed after birth, characterized by finger flexion contracture.
• Incidence rates vary, with no significant sex-specific predominance reported in prior studies.
• This study utilized South Korean National Health Insurance data for a large-scale analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and incidence of pediatric trigger digits (TD) in South Korea.
• To analyze the characteristics of operative treatment for pediatric TDs.
• To identify trends in diagnosis and surgical intervention for pediatric TD.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide study included pediatric TD patients aged 0-10 years (2011-2020).
• Prevalence and incidence rates were calculated based on age and sex.
• Operative treatment data, including age at surgery and time to operation, were analyzed using ICD-10 codes.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates ranged from 0.063% to 0.084%, with higher rates observed in girls.
• The overall incidence rate was 77.6 per 100,000 person-years, higher in girls.
• 8.9% of diagnosed pediatric TD patients underwent surgery, with a mean age at surgery of 3.79 years.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric trigger digits (TD) show high prevalence and incidence in 2- to 3-year-old children.
• Operative management for pediatric TD is frequently performed between ages 2-3, typically within one year of diagnosis.