DUPUYTREN
What happens in Dupuytren's disease
Dupuytren's disease is a benign proliferation of the connective tissue of the hand. As it progresses, nodular thickenings and hardened cords form, at first in the palm and later at the thumb and the fingers. What increases are those connective-tissue fibres that connect the skin with the structures beneath it – tendon sheaths, ligaments, joint capsules and bone. The thickenings feel like (shortened) tendons. There is no actual shortening of the tendons, as is often mistakenly assumed.
Symptoms
As the fibrous cords shorten (not the tendons), the fingers bend more and more into the palm, and this cannot be overcome. At late stages the fingers can be fully folded into the hand.
Nodules in the palm
Painless hardenings can be felt in the hand
Nodules in the fingers
Painless hardenings can be felt in the hand
The fingers no longer straighten fully
The hand can no longer be laid flat on the table.
What causes the condition?
Dupuytren's disease is genetic. It is inherited in what is known as a multifactorial pattern, in which a generation can well be skipped. Whether diabetes mellitus or liver damage encourage the condition to develop is still disputed today.
Treatment options for Dupuytren's disease
As long as there are only hardenings in the hand, surgery should not yet be carried out. An operation on the hand only makes sense once the finger can no longer be straightened fully. Surgery cannot cure the condition completely. Even after a well-performed operation the nodules often cannot be prevented from returning. It is also unwise to wait too long, however, as the joints can otherwise stiffen
Treatment options
Non-surgical and surgical – we will find the right approach for you
Radiotherapy
At an early stage the progress of the condition can be slowed by radiotherapy
Removing the thickened tissue
Removing the thickened tissue improves the extension of the fingers.
Our hand specialists
Experienced consultants for Dupuytren's disease and hand surgery
