Dupuytren's contracture: Etiology, diagnosis and surgical treatment, retrospective analysis of ten years

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to demonstrate the patient profile of the cases we had operated for Dupuytren's contracture and to give information about disease etiology, diagnosis and surgical treatment. Material and Methods: Patients who had been operated for Dupuytren's contracture between 1995 and 2005 were evaluated retrospectively regarding age, sex, family history, etiological factors, treatment protocols, complications and late follow up results. Results: The male/female ratio of the patients was 3.6/1 and mean age of disease onset was 51.6 ± 12.1. The ratio for family predisposition for Dupuytren disease was 28.5%. Smoking was evident in 64.2% of the patients while 35.7% had alcohol regularly. Diabetes mellitus was seen in 19%, hepatic disease in 2.3%, long term barbiturate use for epilepsiy in 2.3% of the patients. The mean loss of extension in the fingers with contracture was 56° ± 20 in the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints and 45°±14 in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. All patients underwent partial fasciectomy operation. The overall complication rate was 16.6%. The mean postoperative gain of extention in the MCP, PIP and DIP joints was respectively 92.2%, 71.8%, 86%. Conclusion: The characteristics of the disease should be recognized and surgery should be performed before development of a serious functional loss. Physical therapy and splint applications should be performed in the postoperative period. It is important to inform the patients about the course of the disease, the risk of recurrence and the importance of the rehabilitation. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.