Dupuytren’s Contractures
Description
This condition is a thickening of the fascia on the palm of the hand. The fascia is a connective tissue located just beneath the skin of the palm and fingers. This thickened fascia can form lumps or nodules under the skin, or long thick cords of tissue that extend from the palm to the fingers. Often, this thickened tissue contracts. This causes one or more fingers to curl toward the palm. This is called a flexion contracture.
Dupuytren’s Diathesis
Dupuytren’s diathesis is a more aggressive form of Dupuytren’s disease that occurs before the age of40. It is associated with a strong family history, and affects both hands. A person who has Dupuytren’s diathesis also commonly has other diseases of the fascia, such as nodules and contractures in the soles of the feet (called Ledderhose’s disease) and curvature of the penis (called Peyronie’s disease).
Animations
Dupuytren’s Contractures
Causes & Triggers
The exact cause of Dupuytren’s disease is unknown. It most commonly affects white males of Northern European and Scandinavian descent over the age of 60. It is more prevalent in patients with diabetes. Smoking, lung disease, alcoholism, and use of anticonvulsant medication have been associated with Dupuytren’s disease, but the relationship is unclear. Trauma to the hand may also play a role in its development.
- Age
- Gender
- Hand trauma
- Heredity
- Northern European or Scandinavian decent
Signs & Symptoms
The first symptom is a painless, firm nodule under the skin of the palm, most commonly in line with the ring or little fingers. As the disease progresses, the normal fascial bands may further thicken. They may form a cord that extends to one or more fingers. As the cord contracts, affected fingers begin to curl. They may not be able to be fully straightened.
- Changes in appearance of palm:
- Lump(s) at base of ring or pinkie finger
- Lump(s) beneath skin of palm
- Thickening of palmar fasica
- Difficulty in fully extending fingers
- Fingers pulled into palm
- Inability to perform daily palm-extending activities such as shaking hands or doing dishes
Tips & Treatment
There is no treatment to cure or prevent Dupuytren’s disease or its progression, but treatment may be used to relieve severe finger contracture. Treatment options include surgical excision of the thickened fascial tissue or an in-office needle release of the contracture. It can also be treated with an injection of an enzyme called collagenase. This enzyme weakens the contracted cord and allows it to be pulled and broken.
- Men develop the condition more often than women.
- Lumps can develop into hard “cords” that extend into the fingers.
- Treatment may require breaking apart or removing those cords.
