A person’s hands are their most versatile tools. Being able to easily manipulate items with our hands is part of what makes living easier. However, there are some conditions which rob people of the full use of their hands. Dupuytren’s Contracture is one such issue.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a deformity in the hand. Knots form underneath the skin. These knots pull fingers down into a bent position and don’t allow them to bend back out to a normal position. This certainly makes a lot of activities difficult. Something as simple as putting on an oven mitt doesn’t work like it’s supposed to. While Dupuytren’s contracture is fairly rare, it can happen to many people. However, there are many risk factors which can play into getting Dupuytren’s contracture.
Causes and Risk Factors
Unfortunately, there’s no known cause for why people get Dupuytren’s contracture. However, despite this, there are some sections of the population which seem to be more likely to get it. People who fall into any of these risk factors should be on the alert for the potential beginning of Dupuytren’s contracture. Risk factors include:
- Gender - Men are more likely to suffer than women are. In addition, they are also more likely to suffer from severe cases.
- Family History - If other members of a family have gotten Dupuytren’s contracture in the past, then other members of the family are more likely to get it.
- Diabetes - It seems that those who suffer from Diabetes also need to be on the alert for symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture.
- Age - The elderly are more likely to suffer from it. Specifically, people over 50 years of age.
- Ancestry - People who come from families of Northern European descent are at higher risk.
- Smoking and Alcohol - Both smoking and drinking excessively have been shown to be risk factors. Considering the wide number of conditions they can cause, these risk factors are certainly ones which are good to be controlled.
Symptoms of Dupuuytren’s Contracture
The symptoms of Dupuytrent’s contracture is more of a long single symptom that progresses from stage to stage instead of a series of symptoms. The end result is fingers that are permanently bent and unable to straighten. Usually it’s the two outside fingers of a hand.
Things start off with the skin thickening on a person’s palm. It becomes dimpled and then a firm lump of tissue ends up forming on the palm. It is only rarely painful. Eventually the trademark cords of tissue form, reaching up into the fingers. The cords finally tighten and the fingers are pulled down towards a person’s palm.
Treatment for Dupuytren’s Contracture
There are several treatment options for people who are dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture. In some mild cases where the hands can still be used easily, people may receive zero treatment. Treatment will break or loosen the cords damaging the hand. Needling is an aptly named treatment which uses needles to break the cord of tissue. Needling can be done easily and with minimal recovery. The downside is that contractures tend to reform after needling.
Another option is to receive enzymes injected into the tissue cords. This weakens them and allows a doctor to try to break them. Like needling, this method is fairly fast and requires minimal invasion. Also like needling, contractures can reoccur.
Often the most serious and advanced cases may require surgery. This is usually reserved for people who have lost the majority of the function in their hands. The tissue that is causing the problem will be completely removed. In some cases, even more tissue needs to be removed, including the skin of the palm. Skin grafts will then be used to patch the hand.