This article explores Dupuytren's contracture, detailing its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. It highlights risk factors like alcohol, smoking, and genetics, and discusses management strategies including surgeries and injections. Early diagnosis improves prognosis and hand function.
Dupuytren's contracture, also known as Dupuytren's disease, is a hand disorder affecting the skin and deep connective tissues. It causes the fascia—the tissue connecting the palm to the fingers—to thicken and become less elastic, leading to nodules and cords that pull the fingers into flexed positions. The exact cause is uncertain, but risk factors include alcohol use, diabetes, epilepsy, smoking, and genetic predisposition. Typically occurring in individuals over 40, symptoms can limit hand function. Treatment options such as surgical release and corticosteroid injections are available, emphasizing early intervention for better outcomes.