What is it:
Dupuytren’s disease is an abnormal thickening of the palm which can cause a limitation in the movement of the fingers. In the most advanced cases, the presence of a cord under the skin is noticed, which makes the complete extension of the fingers more and more difficult, up to a situation of the fingers being closed.
In some patients the disease can also affect other parts of the body, such as the soles of the feet or the knuckles. The cause is unknown, but there is a certain family predisposition. The disease is benign and painless.
It is important to know that the presence of a lump in the palm is not an absolute indication of the need for surgery.
Recommended treatment:
If the correct functioning of the hand is compromised, surgical treatment, which involves the removal of pathological tissue with consequent distension of the fingers, is indicated.
After surgery, it’s possible that the disease reappears in a period that may vary from several months to many years.
The operation is generally performed in Day Hospital with regional anaesthesia of the upper limb. Post-operative treatment can be long and includes medications and physiotherapy cycles that are necessary to guarantee the effectiveness of the surgical treatment.
Supports with splints or casts are always needed.
