Dupuytren's Contracture Surgery

The best Dupuytren’s Contracture treatment is a fasciectomy and a dermafasciectomy. With these surgical treatments there is less chance of the Dupuytren’s Contracture returning than with a needle fasciotomy.

A fasciectomy is a quicker procedure than a dermafasciectomy as there is no need for a skin graft and as a result the recovery process is quicker and may involve less physical therapy afterwards. However a needle fasciotomy has an even faster recovery time.

Steroid injections are sometimes used to control any pain associated with the condition and in some cases may prevent Dupuytren’s Contracture from getting worse. But steroid injections are not able to right the damage caused by the condition.

Enzyme injections is a relatively new Dupuytren’s Contracture treatment and this involves injecting a certain type of enzyme directly into a taut cord, weakening and loosening it enough to allow a surgeon to manipulate the hand, break the cord and straighten the fingers. However there is a greater chance of Dupuytren’s Contracture returning with this type of treatment compared to Dupuytren’s surgery.

This really depends on the severity of the Dupuytren’s Contracture. Some people find that their symptoms never progress beyond the early stages and can be managed with pain relief and finger-stretching exercises to maintain mobility. However, if advanced Dupuytren’s Contracture is left untreated, this can result in the affected fingers being pulled into the palm, leaving them permanently bent in position. This makes performing some day-to-day tasks extremely difficult, such as grasping large objects and fitting the hand through narrow spaces. This can ultimately impact on all areas of your life, preventing you from playing sports, enjoying hobbies, socialising, cleaning and, depending on the type of work you do, this can affect your employment.

Yes, you can get Dupuytren's surgery on the NHS. However the NHS has been, and continues to be, hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. High levels of staff sickness has had an impact on waiting times across the board. These waiting times vary from hospital to hospital. You could potentially be facing weeks or even months of waiting for your Dupuytren's Contracture surgery on the NHS. And any new waves of Covid-19 infections may result in this wait getting even longer. Of course it is not the fault of the NHS, but if faced with a lengthy wait for treatment, you may find that your condition worsens. Because of this, many people choose to go to a private clinic for their Dupuytren's Contracture treatment. At the Cadogan Clinic, there is no waiting list, so providing you meet the criteria, you can have the procedure promptly.

There are certain things you can do at home to prevent the condition from getting worse.

You should try to protect your hands where possible by wearing padded gloves when doing housework and when carrying out any tasks that involve heavy grasping. Avoid a tight grip on tools by using cushioned tape or pipe insulation on the handles. Try to avoid activities that involve repeated gripping or straining of the fingers wherever possible. You may also find that finger stretching exercises help.

As there are proven links between Dupuytren's Contracture and smoking and excessive drinking, it is advisable to quit smoking and cut your alcohol intake. Doing so will also have a positive impact on your overall health.

However, despite taking all these measures, your condition may still persist or get worse. Surgery is the only way to successfully treat Dupuytren's Contracture.

Yes, Dupuytren’s is a form of arthritis. Arthritis refers to more than one hundred different conditions and some of these have wide-ranging symptoms and causes. It is important that arthritic conditions are diagnosed quickly so they can be treated appropriately.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, there is no waiting list for Dupuytren's Contracture surgery and you will be able to have your procedure carried out as a day case at our award-winning London clinic. Book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons and find out how quickly we can relieve you of your Dupuytren's Contracture.

Recovery times are dependent on the severity of the condition and the type of surgery.

With a fasciectomy, it takes around two to three weeks for the area to heal, followed by another two to four weeks to overcome the postoperative stiffness with physical therapy. The most severe cases, including those patients who have had dermofasciectomy, can take up to three months to recover.

However a splint may be needed for many months after the operation to maintain the surgical correction of the finger(s). At first, it will be necessary to wear the splint night and day, but often this reduces to night-time only after about a fortnight once your stitches are removed. With a needle fasciotomy you can expect to have the full function of the hand restored within two weeks.

It is very important that you follow all the aftercare advice issued by your surgeon. Failure to do so may impact on your recovery and the final result.