Treatment Trends in Pediatric Trigger Thumb Among Hand Surgeons, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons, and Pediatric Hand Surgeons

Abstract

Background: The appropriate initial management of pediatric trigger thumb (PTT) remains controversial. Some providers advocate for prolonged nonoperative management, whereas others may offer surgical release to provide a reliable and expedient resolution. The goal of this study was to elucidate the practice patterns of surgeons with different fellowship training who treat patients with PTT. We hypothesized that an association between surgeon specialty training and treatment algorithm would be identified. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was sent to mailing lists of 3 professional organizations whose members represent most providers caring for pediatric hand patients. Respondents were asked their training background and treatment recommendations for several clinical scenarios. Responses were compared across subspecialties. Results: Of the respondents, 444 completed a fellowship in hand surgery, 167 completed a pediatric orthopedic fellowship, and 155 completed an additional congenital hand fellowship. Providers with hand fellowship training were more likely to offer surgical intervention as a first-line treatment for a 3-year-old patient with a flexible trigger thumb than those who completed a pediatric orthopedic fellowship ( P = .001), and more likely to offer surgical intervention to a 3-year-old patient with an intermittent ( P = .007), painful ( P = .015), or locked ( P = .012) trigger thumb than those providers who completed additional training in congenital hand surgery. No statistically significant differences in practice patterns were appreciated for children aged 6 and 18 months. Conclusion: Variability was appreciated in practice patterns for initial treatment recommendation for a patient presenting with PTT. Subspecialty training does appear to affect treatment recommendations for clinical scenarios involving a 3-year-old patient with PTT, although this trend is not observed when treating younger patients.