Trends in Nerve Transfer Procedures Among Board-Eligible Orthopedic Hand Surgeons
Marie Morris, David M. Brogan, Martin I. Boyer, Christopher J. Dy
Abstract
PURPOSE: Enthusiasm for peripheral nerve transfers increased over the past several years, but further studies are still needed to establish the role of these procedures in peripheral nerve reconstruction. The primary goal of this study was to describe the frequency of nerve transfer surgery among newly trained orthopedic surgeons. METHODS: We queried the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II case log database for all nerve reconstruction Current Procedural Terminology codes for examination years 2004 to 2018 for surgeries performed between 2003 and 2017. Information collected for each patient included examination year, year of surgery, surgeon fellowship training subspecialty, geographic region (as defined by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II case log database), patient age, and patient sex. RESULTS: < .001). CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in the number of nerve transfer procedures relative to all nerve reconstruction codes for peripheral nerve conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is a modest but significant increase in nerve transfer procedures over time among newly trained orthopedic surgeons, which suggests the need for long-term outcomes studies for nerve transfers procedures performed in the setting of peripheral nerve conditions.