Causes and treatment of Dupuytren contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture is a deformity in the hand that limits finger movement and prevents full extension of the finger. Read on to learn more about it.

Today, we are going to learn about the causes and treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture. Dupuytren’s contracture is a deformity in the hand that primarily affects finger movement. These diseases destroy the tissue layer under the skin of the palms. The problem develops over several years and occurs more frequently in men after age 45.

About half of people with Dupuytren’s contracture have problems in both hands. Also, when only one hand is affected, the incidence in the right hand is twice that of the left hand.

Contracture limits finger movement and prevents full extension. It mainly appears on the ring and pinky fingers and complicates daily activities.

Putting your hands in your pockets, putting on gloves, and waving your hands are some of the most restricted movements. Learn more about building dupitren in this article.

Related symptoms

Dupuytren’s contracture impairs the functioning of the affected hand, but the process is slow.

At first, the skin of the palms thickens, then wrinkles appear and dents appear on the surface. Small lumps may also develop in the palmar area.

Or, it thickens until it forms a string-like band, which may be soft to the touch but not painful. When a lump is formed under the skin, one or more fingers are pulled and bent. This will make your hands look like claws.

When Dupuytren’s contracture occurs, some movements become impossible, limiting the patient’s daily activities.

Causes of Dupitren’s Contraction

Although the specific cause of Dupuytren’s contracture is unknown, researchers believe there is a genetic component that primarily affects men.

There is no evidence that these hand disorders will recur. It’s also not clear if any activity or occupation involving vibration can cause Dupuytren’s contracture.

Risk Factors for Duffitren Construction

Dupuytren’s contractures occur with varying frequencies depending on an individual’s genetic load and characteristics. Alcoholism and epilepsy patients also have a higher incidence.

These hand deformities are more common among people in Nordic countries and regions. Conversely, it is considered a rare disease in Africa and East Asia.

Some risk factors for Dupuytren’s contracture include:

• over 50 years old.

• It is 7 to 10 times more common in men than in women.
• Duphytren’s contracture tends to be inherited .
• Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing chronic damage to collagen .
• Smoking causes microscopic damage to blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing the disease.
• Likewise, drinking alcohol causes toxic metabolites and liver damage.

Possible Treatment of Dupitren’s Contraction

One of the earliest steps in treatment is to look for cases that are not severe and do not progress. It does not limit functionality, so these initial measures should be considered.

Injecting cortisone into the lump before the finger flexes may reduce sensation. However, be aware that cortisone does not slow the progression of the disease.

Another treatment option is collagen-degrading enzyme injection, which shows a good effect. The collagen-degrading enzyme is an enzyme that breaks down collagen that forms the taut tissue of the palm.

These substances are produced by the bacterium Clostridium histolyticum, and the use of enzymes can soften and weaken the fibrous tissue strings. This allows the hand to be manipulated by breaking the tissue and straightening the fingers.

In some European countries, good results are achieved with radiation therapy. Such treatment can slow the progression of the disease and the need for surgery. Radiation therapy is usually performed only once.

stabbing

The patient may receive stabbing treatment prior to surgery. The goal is to break the fibrous tissue that contracts the finger by inserting a needle into the skin.

The advantage of the stabbing is that no incisions are required and the surgeon can perform multiple fingers simultaneously. After treatment, physical therapy is rarely required. However, the main drawback is that the buildup can recur.

Operation

The doctor schedules a surgery when the patient is unable to lay their palms flat on the table. The same is true for cases where the fingers are too bent, limiting their function or affecting multiple fingers.

The main purpose of surgery is to surgically remove the affected tissue. In addition, it has the advantage of being able to see more perfect and long-lasting results than collagen-degrading enzyme injections or stabs.

In severe cases, all tissue affected by Dupuytren’s contracture is removed, including the skin attached to the fibrous tissue. Therefore, a skin graft is required to cover the wound.

The postoperative period after Dupuytren’s contracture is long and requires rehabilitation for functional recovery.

Advice and Prevention

People with Dupuytren’s Contraction are advised to make the following changes to their activities:

• Wear protective gloves when lifting heavy objects.
• Attach pipe insulation or thick tape to objects and tool handles.

Physical therapy can help reduce pain and increase the range of motion. Among them, the following technologies can be used:

• heat treatment
• ultrasonic wave
• extension exercise

Dupitren construction is progressing slowly

Dupuytren’s contracture can progress unpredictably, resulting in deformity and loss of function of the affected hand. Therefore, it is important to recognize this and receive appropriate medical care.

If surgery is required, it can be supplemented with physical therapy, primarily to reduce symptoms and improve hand function. The end goal is to increase the mobility of the fingers.