I have a condition called Dupuytren’s disease. What can I do about it?
Dupuytren’s disease is a condition in which the normal fibrous tissue under the skin of the palm thickens and contracts. It usually first shows up as a nodule or a pit in the palm. It can then extend to form a cord that can pull the finger into a flexed position. Typically, no treatment is initiated until a 30º contracture forms at the finger or the palm cannot be placed flat on a tabletop. Then, a surgeon would consider surgical excision of the cord. This is a very delicate operation that should only be done by an experienced surgeon. Looking to the future, an enzyme injection to disrupt the cord and relieve the flexion deformity is being developed, but it will be at least a few years before it is fully approved for use by the FDA.
