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Dupuytren’s contracture

Must KnowHandthinKbox SBA

Autosomal dominant disease of variable penetrance characterised by Benign fibromatosis of palmar and digital fascia with nodule and cord formation

Demographics

  • M:F 4-10:1
  • Diabetes
  • Cholesterol
  • HIV
  • Usually unilateral
  • Young, b/l, ectopic disease with family history: Dupuytren’s diasthesis, a severe disease
    • Peyronie: dartos fascia
    • Ledderhose: plantar fascia
    • Garrod: knuckle pad

Pathology

  • Angiofibromatous metaplasia
  • Myofibroblast is the chief cell
    • Produce fibronectin
    • Type III collagen proliferation
  • My be subdermal origin/metaplasia of existing fasciae
  • Natural bands are converted in to cords
  • Three stages
    • Proliferation
    • Involution
    • Residual stage

Cords

  • Spiral cord: bring the NV structures medially to the midline
    • Pretendinous band
    • Central band
    • Lateral band
    • Greyson ligament
  • Commisural cord
  • Ab D Min cord
  • Natatory cord

Clinical features

  • History
    • Age, hand dominance, function, other area involvement
    • DM, epilepsy
  • Examination
    • Digits involved and the cords
    • sensation and digital allen test
    • MCPJ angle and PIPJ angle
    • Garrod pad
    • Hueston table top test

Indication for surgery

  • Functional impairment
  • MCPJ 30 degree contracture
  • PIP 15 degree contracture (PIP is bad as polar plate and collaterals contact permanently)
  • Aim of the disease is to improve function and the surgery is done under general anaesthetic/regional block. you will wake up with a bulky dressing on your hand, which will be reduced at 48 hours. Sutures will be removed at 10-12 days and we have to start a lengthy physio and scar management protocol with night splinting for 6 months.
  • Surgery is not curative, and the disease can recur and we may not get full correction at PIP joint. There is a small risk of skin grafting, this if required will be taken from inner forearm.
  • There is a also a small risk of digital nerve/vessel injury, cold intolerance and in a worst case scenario may result in amputation.

Treatment

  • Collagenase inj (AUX 1 and ii from Cl. Histolyticum )
    • one cord at a time
    • area where cord is easily palpable and away from tendon
    • Next day manipulation under LA
  • Fasciotomy: only for pretendinous cord , MCPJ
  • Limited Fascietomy
    • M/C procedure
  • Dermofascetomy: recurrence
    • Full thickness graft
    • Graft act as fire break

Incisions

  • Brunner: Zigzag with apex at mid axial point
  • Z plasty : lengthen by 75%
  • McCash open technique
    • Transverse palmar and digital brunner / z
    • left open
    • elderly
    • long time to heal

Written/reviewed by Kishore Puthezhath

Professor of Orthopaedics and Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

FRCS (Tr & Orth) revision resource

Reviewed: September 2026