The Australian hand difference register: sharing clinical experience

Clinical registries are increasingly recognised as a powerful tool in many areas of healthcare as they provide timely data of critical importance including disease incidence, treatment outcomes and medical device safety. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons in Australia have embraced this mode of data collection with the development of the Australian breast device registry (ABDR) and the  Australia and New Zealand burns registry (BRANZ), both of which were established with the financial support of the Australasian Foundation for Plastic Surgery (AFPS). These registries have already made significant contributions to patient care and outcomes.1,2 Children born with a congenital hand difference are a diverse group who, with their families, share the common trait of carrying what can be both a significant functional and social burden for life. While the various hand differences have been thoroughly described, classified and reclassified, and multiple operations designed for each of them—as all plastic surgery registrars preparing for their examinations will attest—the data that informs families and assists in decision-making is sparse and often historical. It is this gap that the Australian hand difference register (AHDR) aims to fill by providing nationally collected and standardised data on incidence, demography and long-term outcomes in order to assist patients, families and treating clinicians.