Dupuytren’s Disease

Dupuytren’s disease can be a debilitating condition that restricts you from being able to use one or more of your fingers. It can also alter the way that your hand looks. This disease causes the tissues underneath the skin on your palm to become shorter and thickened and therefore, pull your fingers inward in a bent position. It may be the case that the person is unable to straighten their fingers at all. As the disease progresses it slowly gets worse, but will rarely cause pain. Typically, those most often affected are people in their 50’s or older.

Symptoms Of Dupuytren’s Disease:

The beginning signs of this condition start with a lump on the palm of the hand where your ring finger and pinkie finger meet. As the condition progresses, the development of a fibrous cord may begin in the palm of the hand. As this cord further develops, it may begin to pull your fingers inward towards the palm. When the fingers begin to pull inward, this is referred to as Dupuytren’s Contracture. The condition may cause it to be difficult or impossible to bend back your fingers or to press your hand flat on a table. Daily activities such as picking up things may become difficult.

What Causes Dupuytren’s Disease?

Unfortunately, the cause of this condition is unknown. It has been considered that the disease may be inherited as it has seen to be consistent in families. Dupuytren’s disease may also be an affect of diabetes, smoking or alcoholism.

How Do You Diagnose Dupuytren’s Disease?

When you visit with Dr. Tahernia, he will check for changes in the skin on the palm to see if there are knots. He will also ask you to move your fingers, hand and wrist so he can see if there are noticeable restrictions. Dr. Tahernia will also want to know about your family history and if you smoke or use alcohol.

Dupuytren’s Disease Treatments:

The main goal of treating this condition is to restore the functionality of the hand. In the beginning stages of the disease a splint or finger stretchers may be used. In some cases, doctors use a treatment called needle aponeurotomy. This helps to separate the tightness of the cords. There is also a medicine called collagenase which is injected into the hand to dissolve the tight tissue. In more severe cases, where all other conservative treatments have failed, surgery will be required. Especially in the case where the patient is unable to pick up things anymore because of the condition, surgery will be the best option.