Dupuytren’s contracture disease gradually pulls the fingers towards the palm, limiting hand function and making it difficult to do simple everyday activities. While it may not be commonly known, this condition can profoundly affect the lives of those living with it. Here is what you need to know about Dupuytren’s Contracture Disease and its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
What is Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Dupuytren’s contracture disease is a hand deformity where the connective tissue in the palm thickens and shortens. Over time, the thickened tissue pulls one or more fingers toward the palm. These fingers can end up stubbornly curled inward, resisting any movement that straightens them.
What Happens If You Have This?
Dupuytren’s contracture targets the layer of tissue called the fascia, which is responsible for anchoring and stabilizing the skin on the palm. As the fascia contracts, it forms nodules and cords that pull the fingers into a bent position. The tightening of this fascia restricts finger movement, leading to the characteristic contractures that define the disease. These changes can profoundly affect hand functionality and quality of life.
The Different Causes of Dupuytren’s Contracture
The exact cause of Dupuytren’s contracture remains unknown. However, there is a strong consensus in the medical community that genetics plays a pivotal role. If someone in your family has this hand condition, the chances are higher that you might also experience Dupuytren’s contracture.
Who is at Risk of Developing Dupuytren’s Contracture?
While the exact cause may be uncertain, several risk factors increase the likelihood of developing Dupuytren’s contracture. Understanding these risk factors helps us recognize the importance of early intervention, especially if you find yourself in one of these higher-risk categories:
- Age: Dupuytren’s is more common in people over age 50.
- Gender: Men are more frequently affected than women.
- Heritage: Individuals of Northern European descent are more commonly affected.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking and alcohol use have been associated with an increased risk of Dupuytren’s.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are at a heightened risk.
How Dupuytren’s Contracture Can Impact Your Daily Life
Living with Dupuytren’s contracture can subtly start to redefine your daily routine and activities. As it progresses, both simple and complex movements become more and more difficult and limited. This condition, often unnoticed at its onset, gradually evolves to significantly impact hand functionality and, consequently, quality of life.
Early Signs and Symptoms
Initially, early signs of Dupuytren’s contracture include small, hard nodules in the palm. These might feel peculiar but not necessarily painful. As it progresses, these nodules thicken and can form tight cords under the skin. The skin on the palm might appear puckered or dimpled, an indicator of the changes unfolding beneath.
Disease Progression
The journey from the first signs to more pronounced symptoms varies greatly among individuals. For some, the condition remains mild and almost unchanging. For others, it can relentlessly start to progress, pulling the fingers towards the palm into a permanent bend. This contracture can develop over months or years, often stealthy and gradual. The fingers most commonly affected are the ring and little fingers.
This evolution from minor inconvenience to significant impairment underscores the importance of early recognition and intervention.
Consulting a Hand Specialist: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
It is vital to visit a hand specialist to better understand your condition and learn how to treat and manage it.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Dupuytren’s contracture begins with a conversation about your symptoms and a visual and physical examination of your hand. The hallmark signs—nodules, pitting, and the gradual curling of fingers—often indicate Dupuytren’s contracture without the need for tests. Sometimes, the specialist may perform a tabletop test, asking you to lay your hand flat on a table. Difficulty in this simple task can illuminate the extent of the contracture.
Treatment Options
Intervention may become necessary depending on how much the condition can affect and impair your hand function. Non-surgical treatments can sow progression and alleviate symptoms without the invasiveness of surgery. These options include:
- Injections: Using enzymes or steroids to break down the fibrous tissue cord, potentially easing the contracture.
- Physical Therapy: Exercises and stretches to maintain hand mobility and flexibility and slow disease progression. This can be recommended after surgery to aid in recovery.
For more advanced cases, surgery may be recommended by your hand specialist. These surgical procedures may involve cutting the thickened tissue to release tension and improve finger extension. Other options include the removal of the thickened connective tissue to restore hand function.
Dupuytren’s Contracture Treatment with a Hand Specialist Near Me in Maryland
Dupuytren’s contracture’s subtle onset and gradual progression highlight the importance of early detection and intervention. If you have noticed changes in your hand, or if Dupuytren’s contracture runs in your family, do not wait for the symptoms to develop. Contact a hand specialist who can guide you through your options, tailored specifically to your needs and lifestyle.
Our hand specialists at the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics: Maryland Orthopedic Specialists Division are happy to provide quality treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture. We offer comprehensive medical services personalized to suit your needs. Our friendly staff are happy to answer any questions when you call us at (301) 515-0900. You can also visit us at a location near you or book an appointment through our online form.
