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Incidence of trigger digits in newborns
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, MA 02115.
The Journal of Hand Surgery
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Congenital trigger digits are rare in newborns. A study found no cases in 1046 infants, suggesting trigger digits may be acquired after birth rather than congenital.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Neonatal Development
Background:
- Trigger digits (stenosing tenosynovitis) are uncommon in infants.
- Understanding the congenital incidence is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the congenital incidence of trigger digits in newborns.
- To investigate the age of presentation for surgically treated trigger digits.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 1046 newborns to assess congenital incidence.
- Retrospective review of surgical cases of trigger digits from 1989-1992.
Main Results:
- No trigger digits were identified in 1046 newborns, indicating a low congenital incidence (0-3 per 1000 live births).
- Of 82 surgically treated cases, only 7 presented before 6 months of age, and none before 3 months.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that trigger digits in infants may often be acquired postnatally.
- Further research is needed to differentiate congenital versus acquired causes.