Evaluation of the effects of fasciectomy on finger contracture in patients with Dupuytren’s disease

Abstract

Background: Dupuytren’s disease is a soft-tissue benign disease diagnosed by progressive and irreversible fibrosis in hand’s palmar fascia. The prevalence of Dupuytren’s disease is 0.5-11 percent and the incidence is 3 cases per 10,000 persons in a year. Treatment options are medical and surgical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fasciectomy in flexion contracture of hand fingers in patients with Dupuytren’s disease. Methods: 36 patients were selected for this study. Surgical intervention was done for all the patients with the standard protocol of fasciectomy. After the surgery and physiotherapies, patients came to clinic for follow up and the degree of flexion contracture was evaluated 3 times including 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. Findings: 36 patients (83.3 was men) participated in this study. Comparing the degree of flexion contracture in metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of fingers before surgery and after 3 months showed significant decrease in degree of flexion contracture. Comparing the results after 6 and 12 months of surgery showed a little difference in flexion contracture that was not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis showed that changes of flexion contracture over the time in each finger and in MCP and PIP joints were significantly different. Conclusion: Surgical treatment, especially fasciectomy, has beneficial effects on patients with Dupuytren’s disease and induces its effects during short time. The success rate of fasciectomy in these patients is greater than other treatments. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.