Dupuytren's Contracture

The Dupuytren's Contracture or Morbus Dupuytren is a disease of the soft tissue fibres in the hand. Because the aponeurotic fibres in the palm shorten, it often leads to a flexion contracture of the finger.

Indication
If the patient is bothered by the hardened and sometimes painful fibres in the palm or if the flexion contracture of the fingers leads to loss of function, surgery is recommended.

Operation
During surgery, the hard and short fibres are excised and cut off the normal structures. Doing that, it is very important to preserve the fine nerves and blood vessels. This operation can be done as an outpatient procedure. A clinical stay of one to two days is possible as well.

Anaesthesia
The operation is normally performed under plexus anaesthesia. There is no need for a general anaesthesia.

After surgery
There is the need to wear a dressing after surgery for about four to five days. To avoid recurrence, intensive finger exercises are necessary during the following weeks. The stitches are removed about 14 days after surgery.