Dupuytren´s disease (hand surgery)
Originally described as “coachman´s disease “ the condition was named after a French surgeon who first described it in the 18. Century. The condition is very frequent among patients with the so-called Celtic skin type. Often misconceived as a shortening of flexor-tendons, in reality it is a contractive disease of the underlying soft-tissues. Definite causes for the disease remains unknown, but the large numbers of patients affected in Europe makes us suppose that there might be a strong hereditary factor.Initially the patient normally notes a small nodule in the palm of his hand which continues to affect the greater part of the palm and finally leads to a fixed flexion deformity of the long fingers. There are numerous concepts to treat the condition non-surgically which have got one thing in common: they don´t help. Cure is only possible by resection of the diseased tissue, the palmar aponeurosis, a so called “aponeurectomy”.
Our experience shows that partial aponeurectomy, that means removal of only the diseased parts underneath the skin, leads to recurrence in a large number of cases, requiring a second operation. The second operation is normally more extensive and we therefore tend to recommend removal of the entire palmar aponeurosis in the first place. As with everything in surgery, this has to be weighed against the individual benefits for the patient and decided from case to case. We will therefore discuss nature and extent of any surgery necessary with you in detail.
Should you require some more extensive information of hand surgery either in the department of Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery of Hospital Quiron Malaga or in Cirumed Clinic Marbella please contact us.
