Dupuytren's Disease Central Texas

Return Form and Function to Your Hand

The hand is a complicated appendage, and so too are its ailments. With so many finely tuned tendons, muscles, and ligaments having to work together in harmony, almost constantly, it is a surprise that more individuals do not suffer from hand injury or disease. For those that do have an ailment of the hand, there is hope. At Seton Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, our specialized Hand Center provides expert care and treatment for a full range of injuries and diseases, including Dupuytren's disease, for patients in Central Texas.

What Is Dupuytren's Disease?

Dupuytren's disease, also known as Dupuytren's contracture or palmer fibromatosis, is a disease of the hand. The connective tissue of the hand just beneath the skin thickens abnormally, creating lumps and pits in the palm. The abnormal thickness can cause the fingers to curl, especially in the ring and little fingers. The curling can cause impaired function of the hand and fingers, limiting the use of the appendage. While the actual cause of Dupuytren's disease is unknown, the following are potential causes and risk factors:

• Men are ten times more likely to contract the disease than women.
• It is common and often misdiagnosed in climbers, manual laborers, and anyone else who experiences constant stress and micro-traumas of the hand tendons.
• People over 40 years of age are more susceptible to the condition.
• Those with liver cirrhosis are at higher risk.
• Those with a family history of Dupuytren's disease are at higher risk.

Thankfully, there are treatment options available for those with Dupuytren's disease in Central Texas at the Hand Center at Seton Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.

Treatment for Dupuytren's Disease

There are several treatments for Dupuytren's disease, depending on its severity. In mild cases of Dupuytren's disease, no treatment is required, and observation will be prescribed to ensure the disease does not worsen. Keep in mind that the presence of a lump does not necessarily mean that surgery is required or that the disease will progress. Should the disease become advanced and begin to affect the dexterity of the hand, surgery may be required. Surgical management of Dupuytren's disease involves the surgical removal of the thick, fibrous tissue affecting the joints of the finger; repeat surgeries may be needed should the condition not improve. Surgical treatment for Dupuytren's disease is still the gold standard, and is most likely to offer long term, satisfactory results.

The Hand Center at Seton Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery has had recent success with injectable collagenase for treatment of Dupuytren's disease. The small injections of the enzyme collagenase weaken the thickened connective tissues, slowly dissolving them over a short time. An injection is done on day 1, then the next day, a manipulation procedure breaks the cord. The injections offer an alternative to surgical intervention at an early stage. Seton Plastic Surgery is one of only a few practices in Central Texas offering the injectable collagenase for Dupuytren's disease. A consultation with the hand surgeon will determine if enzyme collagenase is right for you.

Learn More about Dupuytren's Disease

The hand is arguably the most used and versatile appendage of the human body, and to have such an important part of the body restricted or even rendered useless can be devastating and frustrating. Dupuytren's disease can cause such limitations of the hand, but there are treatment options available. Please contact the Hand Center at Seton Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery today to discover how we can help.