If you notice your fingers curling inward or to the side and have thick skin at the apex of your palm, where it meets the base of your fingers, you may have Dupuytren contracture.

This condition has no known cause, just a range of possible risk factors. However, if ignored, it can progress to a point where you no longer have full mobility in your hand. Detailed below is a guide for Dupuytren contracture, including what it is, what may place you at greater risk, and the most common treatments.

What is Dupuytren Contracture?

Dupuytren contracture, also known as Dupuytren disease, causes the skin of your palm to thicken at the base of your fingers. The thickened skin may form into a thick band or a hard lump, and over time, it can cause one or more of your fingers to contract, curling in toward your palm or pulling sideways.

While Dupuytren contracture can affect any finger, the ring and little fingers are the most commonly affected, and it can occur on either hand. In rare cases, the feet may also be affected.

What Causes Dupuytren Contracture?

The exact cause of Dupuytren contracture is unknown, but it is believed to be hereditary and run in families. This condition may also be linked to alcoholism, smoking, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, or seizure medication use.

Some of the things that may increase your risk of Dupuytren contracture include:

• Being middle age or older.
• Being male
• Having a family history
• Having a northern European or Scandinavian background
• Smoking
• Abusing alcohol
• Taking seizure medication
• Having diabetes

Symptoms Of Dupuytren Contracture

If you find yourself at risk of Dupuytren contracture or have noticed a thickening in the skin at the base of your fingers, it can be helpful to know the other symptoms of Dupuytren contracture.

Common symptoms of Dupuytren contracture include:

• One or more small lumps in the palm
• Being unable to lay your hand flat on a table, palm side down
• Thick bands of tissue under the skin in the palm
• Having fingers that naturally pull forward
• Pits or grooves in the skin that are compressed by the contracted fingers

Treating Dupuytren Contracture

Treatment for Dupuytren contracture begins with a diagnosis. For this, your healthcare provider will examine your hand, testing its flexibility and the amount of feeling you have in your fingers and thumb. They may also test your pinch and grip strength.

After this examination, your healthcare provider will measure and record any nodules and bands on your palm, along with how much your fingers are curling. These measurements are crucial as they allow your healthcare provider to see if the disease worsens or if treatment is working.

As for treatment, the two most common are surgery and a steroid shot.

In advanced cases where you have limited use of your hand, surgery allows for the removal of the thickened tissue. While this can improve mobility, some people have contractures that return, necessitating another surgery.

As for a steroid shot, this can help ease the pain of a lump and may stop the condition from worsening. However, you may need repeated injections.

Find Relief for Dupuytren Contracture

If left alone, Dupuytren contracture can progress to a point where you cannot use your hands for certain tasks, making treatment crucial.

If you notice a thickening in the skin of your palm or struggle to grasp objects or straighten your fingers, Imran Choudhry, M.D., can examine your hands, determine if Dupuytren contracture is the cause, and discuss treatment options with you that can help you regain control of your hands.

Make an appointment with Orthopedic Associates today to get started.

References

Dupuytren’s Disease – Dupuytren’s Contracture – OrthoInfo – AAOS. (2023). Aaos.org. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/dupuytrens-disease/