National Surgical Incidence and Sociodemographic Differences for Pediatric Polydactyly of the Hand

BACKGROUND: Polydactyly surgery rates and trends are poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to characterize national pediatric polydactyly management by examining operative and procedural trends over time, evaluating timing of treatment, identifying factors associated with interventions, and comparing costs and complications. METHODS: We used the PearlDiver national administrative claims database to identify pediatric patients aged 18 and under with a diagnosis of polydactyly (2010-2023). We analyzed patients who received procedures coded as surgical correction or suture ligation, then characterized rates and factors associated with each intervention, and investigated postoperative complication rates. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a declining incidence of pediatric polydactyly and polydactyly surgery. These findings may inform future guideline development and discourse for pediatric hand care.