Dupuytren's disease (plastic surgery)
What are the symptoms?
The following symptoms may occur:
- Palpable lumps or cords in the palm of the hand or in the fingers
- Pain
- Difficulty fully straightening one or more fingers
The ring finger, little finger and middle finger are most commonly affected, but the index finger and thumb can also be involved. The condition may occur in one hand or in both.
How is Dupuytren's disease diagnosed?
A test that can help with the diagnosis is the Hueston Table Top Test: try placing your hand flat on a table. If this is not possible, Dupuytren's disease may be present.
What does the treatment involve?
The disease itself can not be cured, but the symptoms can be treated. How and when treatment is started depends on how much the condition affects your daily activities and on how far the finger has bent. This is assessed carefully during the consultation.
Waiting too long can make it more difficult to fully straighten the finger. Timely treatment is therefore important.
Possible procedures
- Releasing the connective tissue cord (fasciotomy): usually performed under local anaesthesia.
- Removing the cord (fasciectomy): requires regional or general anaesthesia.
Both procedures aim to straighten the finger as much as possible and improve hand function.