Dupuytrens Contracture Procedures

Not all Dupuytren’s contracture needs surgery.  For more severe cases of Dupuytren’s  contracture, various treatment options are available in order to straighten the finger(s).  These options may include needle aponeurotomy,  collagenase injection, or surgery to remove the abnormal tissue.

Needle aponeurotomy is a method where a needle is placed through the skin and used to cut the Dupuytren’s tissue.   This procedure can be done in the office under local anesthesia.

Collagenase injection is a technique where a small amount of medicine is injected into the Dupuytren’s tissue, weakening the thick tissue  so that the finger can be manipulated manually to make it straighter. Collagenase injection can be performed in the office as well, but requires you to return to the office the next day after the injection so that the finger may be straightened after is has be numbed with local anesthesia.

Surgery to remove the Dupuytren’s tissue is performed in the operating room as an outpatient and can be done under regional or general anesthesia.  All three procedures almost always require some hand therapy, and all three require wearing a night extension splint on your hand/finger(s) for approximately 3 months after the procedure.  Many times complete correction cannot be achieved, no matter what treatment is chosen.  Your hand surgeon can describe these options in more detail, including potential risks and benefits, to help you decide what treatment method is best for you.