Wide Awake Trigger Finger Releases Performed in the United States: Trends in Volume, Operative Setting, and Reimbursement.

BACKGROUND

Trigger finger release (TFR) has traditionally been performed in outpatient operating rooms. More recently, TFR may be performed in the office setting to achieve greater efficiency and cost savings.

METHODS

The 2010-2020 Q2 PearlDiver M91Ortho data set was analyzed for cases of TFR. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 years, <30 days of postoperative records, concomitant hand surgery, monitored anesthesia use, and inpatient surgery. Age, sex, and Elixhauser comorbidity index were recorded. Operating room and office procedures were matched 4:1 based on patient characteristics. Total and physician reimbursement for the day of surgery, as well as 30-day narcotics prescriptions, emergency department (ED) visits, and surgical site infections (SSI) were determined.

RESULTS

Before matching, TFRs were found to be increasingly performed in the office (from 7.9% in 2010 to 14.6% in 2020). Matched cohorts consisted of 63,951 operating room and 15,992 office procedures. Office procedures had lower mean total reimbursements ($435 vs $752, P < 0.001), slightly lower mean physician reimbursements ($420 vs $460, P < 0.001), and lower rates of narcotic prescriptions (30.5% vs 50.5%, P < 0.001) and 30-day ED visits (2.2% vs 2.9%, P < 0.05). There was no difference in 30-day SSI (0.5% vs 0.6%, P = 0.374).

CONCLUSIONS

In-office TFR is becoming increasingly prevalent. After matching, in-office TFRs were associated with lesser costs to the system, lower narcotic prescriptions, and fewer postoperative ED visits, without increased SSI. Although it is important to perform procedures in the best location for the patient, physician, and system, the current study supports the increased value offered by in-office TFR.