When should Dupuytren's be operated on?

Surgery for Dupuytren contracture generally should be performed on an affected metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint if the contracture is 30° or greater. Such contractures most likely cause some debilitation for the patient.

Should Dupuytren's contracture be treated early?

Nonsurgical treatments are often recommended at early stages of Dupuytren's or in addition to surgery. While many nonsurgical treatments have been studied, only a small number have shown a benefit. Experts may recommend stretching for the mildest forms of Dupuytren's.

How effective is surgery for Dupuytren's contracture?

Overall, surgery for Dupuytren's disease in the NHS is effective and safe with low complication rates. Within 90 days of surgery: less than one in 100 (0.8%) patients experienced serious systemic complications. one in 100 (1.2%) of patients experienced serious local complications.

What happens if Dupuytren's contracture is left untreated?

If left untreated, Dupuytren's contracture can be debilitating. As the condition progresses, it can limit your ability to open your hand fully, grasp small objects, or insert your hands in narrow spaces.

How quickly does Dupuytren's contracture progress?

Dupuytren's contracture is a progressive condition that involves the thickening of the fibrous layer of tissue beneath the skin, which results in the fingers being pulled inward. It mostly affects the ring and pinky fingers. This condition usually progresses slowly over years or even decades.

Dupuytren's Surgery

What is the latest treatment for Dupuytren's contracture?

XIAFLEX® is the only FDA-approved treatment for Dupuytren's contracture that does not require surgery. A hand specialist will inject this enzyme treatment directly into the cord that's causing limited mobility in the finger. The enzyme releases the cord.

Can Dupuytren's contracture lead to amputation?

Dupuytren's disease (DD) can lead to severe disabling finger contractures resistant to surgical treatment. In some cases, finger or ray amputation is considered, due to a severe functional deficit or vascular injury.

Is Dupuytren's life threatening?

Also known as Dupuytren's disease, the condition can affect both hands, including the thumbs. It is not life-threatening, although it can be discomforting.

Is Dupuytren's serious?

Dupuytren's contracture isn't a dangerous condition, but it can be disabling if it becomes severe. Call your doctor for an appointment if: You have one or more lumps in your palm, whether or not it is painful. You have difficulty straightening your fingers.

Is stretching good for Dupuytren's contracture?

2. Try Exercises. Stretching does help Dupuytren's contracture, and there a number of exercises you can do to help manage this condition.

How painful is Dupuytren's surgery?

Your hand and fingers may be swollen for the first few days. Most people need pain medicine for about a week after surgery. You may feel numbness or tingling near the cut, called an incision, that the doctor made. This feeling will probably start to get better in a few days, but it may take several months to go away.

Do you need surgery for Dupuytren's contracture?

In some patients, a worsening Dupuytren's contracture can interfere with hand function, making it difficult for them to perform their daily activities. When this occurs, there are nonsurgical and surgical treatment options available to help slow the progression of the disease and improve motion in the affected fingers.

How long does Dupuytren's surgery last?

The surgery usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. You will have a thick bandage on your hand, wrist, and fingers. You will not be able to move your finger. You will probably go home after 1 to 2 hours in the recovery room.

When should Dupuytren's contracture be treated?

If you develop a severe contracture of more than 20 to 25 degrees, it's time to consider an intervention, he says. Doctors usually recommend starting with minimally invasive nonsurgical treatment and then moving to surgical options if necessary, according to the Dupuytren Research Group.

How does Dupuytren's contracture typically progress?

Dupuytren's contracture typically progresses slowly, over years. The condition usually begins as a thickening of the skin on the palm of your hand. As it progresses, the skin on your palm might appear puckered or dimpled. A firm lump of tissue can form on your palm.

Can Dupuytren's nodules go away?

There is no cure for Dupuytren's contracture. The condition is not dangerous. Many people don't get treatment. But treatment for Dupuytren's contracture can slow the disease or help ease your symptoms.

Is Dupuytren's a form of arthritis?

Dupuytren's contracture: This form of arthritis causes the tissue beneath the hand to develop nodules in the fingers and palms. These lumps can cause the fingers to stick in place.

Can Dupuytren's contracture affect other parts of the body?

However, Dupuytren's can be associated with conditions that cause contractures in other areas of the body, including the: Knuckle pads (Garrod knuckle pads) Soles of the feet (Ledderhose disease) Penis (Peyronie's disease)

What diseases are associated with Dupuytren's contracture?

Dupuytren's disease is a benign, progressive fibroproliferative disease of the palmar fascia that results in flexion contractures of the involved digits and significant functional impairment. It is also associated with debilitating fibromatoses of the feet (Ledderhose disease) and the penis (Peyronie's disease).

Does Dupuytren's contracture shorten your life?

Overall, patients with Dupuytren's disease had a significantly increased mortality of 22%. The mortality was highest among those with onset of disease before the age of 60. In this age group men with Dupuytren's disease had 70% higher mortality than that of the control group.

Is Dupuytren's associated with other conditions?

Other risk factors for developing Dupuytren contracture may include smoking; extreme alcohol use; liver disease; diabetes; high cholesterol; thyroid problems; certain medications, such as those used to treat epilepsy (anticonvulsants); and previous injury to the hand.

Is Dupuytren's considered an autoimmune disease?

In terms of the immunological features of DD, evidence has persistently suggested the involvement of both T and B lymphocytes in DD etiology [7, 38]. As such, the disease has frequently been termed a “T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder” [6].

Can Dupuytren's come back after surgery?

Recovery can take several months. Most people can move their fingers better after Dupuytren's contracture surgery, but the condition comes back in about one in five people who have the procedure.

Does Dupuytren's contracture affect the feet?

Ledderhose disease, sometimes called plantar fibromatosis or “Dupuytren's of the foot,” is characterized by lumps called nodules on the underside of the foot. These are caused by a thickening in the deep connective tissue (the fascia) in the foot and can cause discomfort or pain when walking.

Does alcohol make Dupuytren's worse?

Drinking alcohol seems to is traditionally said to increase the risk of developing Dupuytren's, especially for those drinking more than 5 units per week.