What is Dupuytren’s contracture?
Dupuytren’s contracture affects the fascia in your hand. The fascia is a layer of fibrous tissue just under your skin. Dupuytren’s causes the fascia beneath the skin of your fingers and palm to gradually thicken and tighten.
As the tissue tightens, it pulls your fingers inward toward your palm. This process can happen so slowly that many people don’t get medical treatment when Dupuytren’s contracture is in its early stages.
What symptoms does Dupuytren’s contracture cause?
One of the first signs of Dupuytren’s contracture is small nodules or lumps in the palm of your hand. These lumps might feel tender to the touch at first, but this sensation can fade over time.
The contracture begins as the fascia becomes tighter and one or more of your fingers starts to bend inward toward your palm. Contracture most often happens in the ring and little fingers, but it can affect any finger and your thumb.
As Dupuytren’s contracture gets worse, you’ll have trouble extending your fingers properly. It can become increasingly hard to grip and will start affecting your ability to do everyday tasks.
How is Dupuytren’s contracture treated?
If you get treatment early enough, steroid injections can reduce your discomfort and slow the progression of Dupuytren’s contracture. However, fixing the condition usually requires surgery.
Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons, LLP offers several surgical options for Dupuytren’s contracture, including:
Fasciotomy
Fasciotomy involves cutting the thickened tissues causing your Dupuytren’s contracture.
Subtotal palmar fasciectomy
With subtotal palmar fasciectomy, your surgeon makes an incision in your palm — often in a zig-zag pattern — to access the underlying fascia. They remove as much abnormal tissue as possible, then use a skin graft if necessary to help your body heal.
Your surgeon might apply regenerative medicine treatments like stem cells or platelet-rich plasma to the wound to encourage the tissues to heal.
What happens after surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture?
After your surgery, you’ll probably need to wear a splint for a while to keep your fingers straight and immobile. As your hand heals, you’ll need physical therapy to improve and strengthen your hand function.
As long as you stick with your rehab program, you should make a full recovery from Dupuytren’s contracture surgery.
Conditions that affect hand function impact almost every aspect of your life. To get the treatment you need for Dupuytren’s contracture without delay, call Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons, LLP today or book an appointment online.
