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Regional Variation in Wrist Ligament Surgery Incidence: A 25-year Nationwide Register Study
Annele M Pönkkö1, Ville M Mattila1,2, Aleksi R Reito2,3
1From the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Wrist ligament surgery incidence varies significantly by region in Finland, with private hospitals showing a steeper increase in procedures than public ones. These differences likely stem from local practices, not injury rates.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Health Services Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Investigates regional variations in wrist ligament surgery incidence across 5 Finnish catchment areas.
- Compares surgical rates between public and private healthcare sectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate geographic disparities in the incidence of wrist ligament surgery.
- To compare surgical rates between public and private hospitals in Finland.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register, covering all public and private hospital procedures.
- Identified procedures using ICD and Nordic Classification of Surgical Procedures.
- Calculated annual incidence rates per 100,000 adult person-years for regional and sector comparisons.
Main Results:
- Significant regional variation in wrist ligament surgery incidence observed, with over a 2-fold difference between some areas.
- Substantial differences in incidence between public and private hospitals were noted.
- Incidence increased more rapidly in private hospitals, which performed up to 3 times more procedures than public hospitals in some regions.
Conclusions:
- Regional variations in wrist ligament surgery incidence are unlikely due to differing injury rates.
- Disparities are more likely influenced by local treatment cultures, surgeon preferences, and sector-specific practices.
- Highlights the need to investigate practice variations in orthopedic surgery.
