Dupuytren’s Contracture develops when the fibrous tissue layer underneath the palm and fingers begins to thicken. Small bumps form under the skin and may lead to the fingers contracting and curling in.
Causes and risk factors
- Common in people of Northern European or Scandinavian ancestry
- Frequently runs in the family
- May be associated with drinking alcohol
- May be associated with certain medical conditions such as diabetes and seizures
- Increases with age
Symptoms
- Initially, small sensitive lumps form in the palm. Usually with time, the pain subsides and goes away
- Nodules may thicken and contract creating tough bands of tissue under the skin inside the fingers and in the palm
- Most commonly the ring and little finger are affected, curling in towards the palm
- Becomes hard to straighten the bent fingers
Diagnosis and treatment
Your orthopedic surgeon will examine your hand and test the feeling in your thumb and fingers. The specified hand’s grip and pinch strength may also be evaluated. Your doctor will be able to use these recorded measurements to determine if the disease is systematic. There are multiple types of treatment for this disease, although there is no cure. In many cases, Dupuytren’s can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure performed in the office.