Dupuytren's Contracture

Dupuytren's Contracture is a disease that can lead to limited use of the hand. this may happen when certain tissue in the palm thickens. While it rarely causes pain, it can make it hard to straighten your fingers.

Signs and symptoms start slowly. They can steadily progress, but they may also stop before they limit hand movement and use. Typical symptoms may include a hard lump forming on the palm, inability to place palm flat on a surface, scar-like bands forming across the palm, fingers bent toward the palm or in rare instances, hand pain.

As Dupuytren's progresses, bands of fascia in the palm develop into thick cords that can tether one or more fingers and the thumb into a bent position. This is called a "Dupuytren's contracture." Although the cords in the palm may look like tendons, the tendons are not involved in Dupuytren's.

If surgery is required, a fasciectomy may be recommended.  In this procedure, an incision is made in the palm and then the thickened cord(s) of tissue are removed.