If one or more of your fingers curve inwards towards your palm, and you find it virtually impossible to straighten it out, then you could be one of the estimated 5% of the population that suffers from a hand condition known as Dupuytren’s disease.
This hand condition is often relatively manageable in the early days, but over time, many patients find that they are unable to straighten and effectively use their affected fingers at all, severely compromising their ability to enjoy life to its fullest extent.
While there is currently no cure for Dupuytren’s disease, there are some therapies that can improve the symptoms of the condition and help restore mobility to the fingers.
Orthopedic hand surgeon, Keith Raskin, MD, in Manhattan, NY offers Needle Aponeurotomy for patients suffering from Dupuytren’s Contracture disease. Needle Aponeurotomy is a highly effective minimally invasive hand treatment that is offered by a small number of surgeons in the United States.
What is Dupuytren’s disease and what causes it?
Dupuytren’s disease is also sometimes referred to as “Viking disease,” since it is believed that it was first recorded thousands of years ago in Scandinavian populations, also known as Vikings.
The condition is characterized by fingers that curve inwards towards the palm, and are unable to be straightened out, so they can be placed flush to a flat surface. Anything from a single digit to all four fingers, and even the thumb, may show symptoms of the condition. However, the ring and little finger are the most common digits affected.
Causes of Dupuytren’s disease
Dupuytren’s disease is caused when the connective tissue in the palm thickens, causing nodules, or small, hard lumps under the skin of the palm. Over time, these nodules extend, forming thickened tissue, which contracts and pulls the fingers or thumb inwards towards the palm.
The exact reason why certain individuals are affected by Dupuytren’s disease is still not known. However, some groups of people who appear to be at greater risk of developing the condition include those who:
- are over the age of 45
- have a family history of the condition
- are men
- have been diagnosed with diabetes
- have suffered a previous injury to the hand or fingers
- are undergoing treatment for epilepsy
Symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease
Although curvature of the fingers or thumbs is the most obvious characteristic of Dupuytren’s disease, there are some other symptoms that may indicate its presence. These include:
- thickening of the skin on the palm of the hand
- small lumps forming under the skin of the palm
- stiffness and sometimes aching in the fingers or thumb
- effort or inability to straighten your fingers or thumb
- indentations in the skin on the palm
Treatment Options for Dupuytren’s disease
Many cases of Dupuytren’s disease are mild, and do not require therapeutic intervention. However, Dr. Raskin may recommend treatment, if your condition is affecting the normal function of your hand.
You will likely be recommended to try non-surgical therapies first. These include a course of radiation therapies, and injections into the hand with a medication called collagenase. Collagenase contains special proteins that break up the collagen fibers in the cord, weakening and relaxing it so that the digits can be straightened.
There are also different techniques used to reduce the contractor of the fingers associated with Dupuytren’s disease.
- Fasciectomy - the shortened cord is removed, allowing the digit to fully extend.
- Fasciotomy –the shortened cord is cut so that the finger can extend, but is not actually removed.
Which treatments is right for you will depend on the severity of your condition, along with other health variables.
Needle Aponeurotomy for Dupuytren’s Contracture
Needle Aponeurotomy, sometime referred to as a percutaneous needle fasciotomy, is a procedure that straightens bent fingers caused by Dupuytren’s disease. During the treatment, the hand is cleaned, then injected with an anesthetic to numb the affected area.
Once the area is numb, a needle is inserted into the hardened tissue that is causing the finger to pull forward. As the needle creates holes in the tissue, we will straighten your fingers out, releasing the fingers from the tissue that is creating the pull. Oftentimes, this is accompanied with a steroid injection to reduce swelling.
To find out more about Dupuytren’s disease, and to discuss what treatments are available, you should seek the advice of a professional and experienced hand surgeon, like Keith Raskin, MD in Manhattan, NY. The Raskin Center for Hand, Wrist & Elbow Surgery would be delighted to assist you. Call our office today at 212-889-8600 and learn more.