Dupuytren's Contracture

Dupuytren's contracture occurs when the tough connective tissue in the palm of the hand begins to thicken, causing the associated fingers to curl. The small and ring fingers are most often affected. The onset of Dupuytren's Disease is a slow and painless process that progressively restricts mobility of the fingers.

Unfortunately, conservative management such as splinting and therapy do not appear to slow the disease's progress. Surgery is considered once the condition becomes bothersome and the function of the hand is impaired. During surgery, the diseased tissue is removed. The operation requires careful dissection and lasts over an hour. The recovery period is two to three weeks because the incisions are left open to avoid skin contractures.

Most modern operative techniques involve excising just the diseased tissue to avoid over excision which could result in pain with grip and loss of palmar protection. The remaining tissue could eventually become diseased.