Dupuytren's Disease

What is Dupuytren’s Disease?

Sometimes called Dupuytren’s contracture, this condition affects the fascia on the palm side of your hand and fingers. Fascia is a fibrous connective tissue that surrounds and stabilizes your muscles and other internal organs. 

When you have Dupuytren’s disease, the fascia on the palm of your hand thickens and tightens. As it tightens, it pulls on your muscles, causing a finger to curl inward. Dupuytren’s disease is progressive, and you can lose mobility in your hand and finger over time.

In the early stages of the condition, you might notice lumps or nodules under the skin of your palm. Your skin might also dimple or pucker as the diseased fascia pulls on your skin. As the condition progresses, your fingers involuntarily curl and get stuck in a bent position. 

What Causes Dupuytren’s Disease?

Medical researchers haven’t identified a specific cause of Dupuytren’s contracture. A family history of the condition increases your risk. You’re also more likely to develop the condition after a hand injury or surgery. 

How Do You Diagnose Dupuytren’s Disease?

The specialists at Beaufort Orthopaedic Sports & Spine begin by reviewing your medical history and symptoms. They examine your hand to check for nodules or thickening cords of tissue. 

Your doctor records the location and size of any nodules or cords and measures your range of motion. They also test the feeling in your fingers and thumbs. These measurements create a baseline for your condition as you go through treatment. 

How is Dupuytren’s Disease Treated?

Your doctor creates a personalized treatment plan depending on the severity of your condition and your specific needs. They usually begin with conservative treatment such as steroid injections and physical therapy to loosen and release the connective tissue in your hand. 

If your contracture disrupts your ability to use your hand or function in your day-to-day life, your doctor might recommend surgery. Surgery can reduce the deformity in your hand and restore movement in the affected fingers.

Your doctor might perform a fasciotomy to divide and release the thickened cords of fascia. A fasciotomy is an outpatient procedure that only requires a local anesthetic. 

In other cases, they might recommend a subtotal palmar fasciectomy. In this procedure, your doctor removes the abnormal tissue. This is a more invasive surgery and requires more time to heal.

If you’re concerned about Dupuytren’s disease, call Beaufort Orthopaedic Sports & Spine or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and personalized treatment.