Hand Dupuytren's Contracture: What Is It and How Can It Be Treated?

You may not pay much attention to the vast array of tasks that your hands perform each and every day. When a problem arises with one or both of your hands, however, it can quickly become difficult to focus on anything other than how much you rely on your hands to accomplish your daily tasks. 

Dupuytren’s contracture is characterized by an abnormal thickening in the tissue that stretches across the palm of your hand. It can cause significant disfigurement in addition to creating problems with how you use your hands throughout the day. 

It’s one of many hand conditions that our plastic surgery and hand reconstruction specialist treats at Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hand surgery is one treatment option, but nonsurgical treatments are also available.

Signs of Dupuytren’s contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture develops slowly, so you may not notice changes right away. It begins with tiny nodules, or bumps, in your palmar fascia, which is the tissue beneath your skin that provides support for your fingers and hands. As time passes, this tissue can form thick bands, eventually causing your fingers to curve inward toward your palm. 

These changes usually occur in your ring finger and little finger, although it’s possible to experience bending in all of your fingers as well as your thumb. Some additional signs of Dupuytren’s contracture include:

• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Pain or burning sensations
• Inability to flatten your palm on a table or other flat surface
• Problems using your hands

Not everyone will experience the same set of symptoms, and it’s possible for the nodules that mark the early stage of the condition to go away on their own without treatment. 

What might have caused my Dupuytren’s contracture?

Researchers believe there’s a strong genetic component to this condition. If one or more of your close family members has  Dupuytren’s contracture, you have an elevated risk of developing it. 

Some additional risk factors for Dupuytren’s include:

• Being assigned male at birth
• European ancestry
• History of alcohol abuse
• Having certain chronic diseases, like diabetes or vascular disease

While you may not be able to prevent Dupuytren’s contracture, treatments can help if you find yourself struggling with changes in the shape or function of your hand. 

When is it time to seek help with Dupuytren’s contracture?

There’s no need to accept the changes brought on by Dupuytren’s contracture as inevitable when help is readily available. Dr. Williams has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating this condition. 

If you’re diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture, Dr. Williams discusses all available treatment paths with you. Low-level radiation, enzyme injections, steroid injections, needle aponeurotomy, and surgery are all possible. Your treatment plan depends on the degree of symptom severity and your overall health. 

To explore your treatment options in greater detail, contact Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery by calling the office during normal business hours or by using the online booking tool on this website.