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Dupuytren’s Contracture Therapy | A Complete Patient’s Guide

Palmar Fibromas, also known as Dupuytren’s Contracture, is a rare connective tissue disorder. It is chronic and usually develops over the years. Additionally, the connective tissue connects, supports, and separates different types of tissues and organs.

With Dupuytren’s disease, the problems with the connective tissues in the hands cause your finger’s joints to stiff. Nevertheless, there are different surgical and non-surgical treatments to control the development of the disease.

Key points about Dupuytren’s Contracture

  • The abnormal thickening of the skin in the palm of your hands is known as Dupuytren’s Contracture.
  • The skin develops into a hard lump. Consequently, it can cause one or more fingers to curl or pull towards the palm.
  • As it affects both hands, you can’t use your hand for certain things as in most cases.
  • Although there is no cure, there are some non-surgical treatments for Dupuytren’s Contracture that can improve your symptoms.

How to identify hand conditions? 

In general, a hand condition needs the following procedures to help in the diagnosis:

  1. Complete history and physical exam

Your doctor needs to know your age, occupation, hand preference, and any history of other issues with your hand. Consequently, in case of injuries, your doctor needs to know:

  • Type of injury.
  • When and where the injury occurred.
  • Position of your affected thumb or finger at the time of your injury or fall.
  • Other information of the injury. For example, is the injury related to your work? Or your hand was injured by a contaminated piece of machinery or chemical.
  1. Your health/medical history

It includes your tetanus vaccine status and current medicines. In some cases, the diagnosis is done based on your physical exam. However, here is a list of exams you should perform to confirm the diagnosis.

  • Arthrography.
  • Bone scintigraphy.
  • CT scan.
  • Electromyogram (EMG).
  • MRI.
  • Ultrasound (Sonography).
  • Video Fluoroscopy.
  • X-ray.

When and how to treat Dupuytren’s Contracture?

There is no proven treatment to stop Dupuytren’s disease. Yet, there are various effective Dupuytren’s Contracture treatments to reduce the symptoms and get instant relief. It’s a complex genetic disorder, but not everyone shows the full spectrum of disease.

According to AAOS, if you only have some bumps in your hands without discomfort, you may not need any treatments. However, if you cannot lay your hand flat on the table, you will likely need immediate treatment.

Your doctor will measure your hand’s angle to your fingers. Furthermore, if you develop a severe contracture of more than 20 to 25 degrees, it’s time to consider an intervention.

Can massage therapy reduce Dupuytren’s Contracture? 

Yes. Massage therapy can delay the progression of contractures and reduce recurrence in post-operative patients. However, massage therapy for Dupuytren’s disease should not be vigorous.

Is heat good to reduce the Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Yes. Heat therapy is one of the best methods to treat Dupuytren’s Contracture. You can apply heat to the palms of your hand to loosen the tissues. All you have to do is gently massage the thickened tissues of your palm with the help of heat packs.

Note: When you perform heat therapy, you should wrap the heating pack in a cloth to avoid skin burn. 

Benefits of heat treatment:

  • Speed up the molecules in tissues and increase your blood flow to help you move your hands accurately.
  • Helps your sore and stiff joints, particularly in the early morning.

However, too much heat can lead to swelling, fainting, or burns to your skin and tissues. Therefore, it’s better to use your heat treatment in moderation.

Other ways to treat Dupuytren’s Contracture

Here is a list of the top three Dupuytren’s Contracture treatment that provides effective results without opting for harmful surgical procedures.

  1. Radiation therapy: In this therapy, low-energy x-rays are directed at the nodules. However, this treatment isn’t more common in the United States.

  It softens the nodules and helps to keep contractions from happening. Nevertheless, it works best in the early stage of Dupuytren’s disease.

  1. Moderate exercises: although Dupuytren’s disease affects your ring and pinky finger, all your fingers are involved. A simple finger flexibility exercise can provide you with effective results.

For instance, place your hand down flat on a table and spread all your fingers as far apart as you can. Now you can bring all your fingers back together.

Note: if your fingers are too stiff or curled to do this exercise, don’t try to spread or stretch them forcefully. Or else, it can make your contracture more worsen. 

  1. Dupuytren’s wand: use Dupuytren’s wand and follow up with wearing Dupuytren’s tape. It offers a comfortable and consistent stretch to the fingers and helps restore your range of motion.

 This at-home Dupuytren’s Contracture therapy is easy, cost-effective, and allows you to use your hand comfortably.

What makes Dupuytren’s Contracture worst?

  1. Diabetes: According to the 2011 Medical Journal Endocrinology Studies, Diabetes increases the risk of Dupuytren’s Contracture. It shows that the risk of Dupuytren’s disease with diabetes is around 20%. After all, in this disease, the connection I probably due to the decreased blood supply to the hand fascia.
  2. Age and sex: The symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease increase with age. As per the British Dupuytren’s Society, almost 80% of people with this hand disease are between 40 and 70. In addition, men were about 6 times more likely to have the disease than women.
  3. Smoking and drinking: According to the Nuggield Orthopedic Center, Oxford, alcohol, and smoking increase the risk of Dupuytren’s disease. In addition, the evidence for smoke is higher than for alcohol.
  4. Family history: Under American Internet Study, 18% of people diagnosed with Dupuytren’s Contracture reported an immediate family member with the same symptoms. Moreover, as per the studies done in Norway, 30% of people who are older than 60% have Dupuytren’s.

The bottom line 

Without proper treatment, the contracture becomes so severe that it becomes hard to straighten your fingers. Eventually, you won’t be able to use your hand effectively. Patients with this disorder usually seek medical advice and perform non-surgical treatment for Dupuytren’s Contracture to get effective results.

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