Dupuytrens Contracture





Dupuytren's contracture occurs when the connective tissue in the palm thickens. Often the tissue thickens in one small area first and a "nodule" forms (a small, hard lump about 0.5-1cm) under the skin of the palm. The nodule sometimes feels tender to begin with, but this usually passes. More nodules may then develop.




Why it happens

The exact cause of Dupuytren's contracture is unknown, but it's thought to be related to your genes, as it often runs in families.

If you have the gene that causes Dupuytren's contracture, other factors such as diabetes, smoking and certain medications (for example, medication for epilepsy) may activate the condition. However, it's not clear how significant these factors are.

Read more about the causes of Dupuytren's contracture.

Who's affected



Preventing Dupuytren's contracture


However, if you're at risk of developing the condition - for example, if you've had it in the past, or if you have a family history of it - stopping smoking (if you smoke) may reduce your risk.

Treating Dupuytren's contracture





  • open fasciotomy - where the shortened connective tissue is cut to relieve tension
  • fasciectomy - where the shortened connective tissue is removed




Ongoing research

Some other treatments have been suggested for Dupuytren's contracture, but there's currently not enough medical evidence to support their use.



Information about you

If you have Dupuytren's contracture, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS).


Find out more about the register.

Symptoms of Dupuytren's contracture

Symptoms of Dupuytren's contracture


You may also notice:

  • unusual dimples on your palm
  • thickening of the skin on your palm
  • tenderness around your palm

Over time, usually months or years, bands of contracted (shortened) tissue called cords can develop in your hand and you may find you can't straighten your fingers as much as you used to be able to.


The condition can affect one or both hands. In cases where only one hand is affected, problems usually develop in the right hand, regardless of whether you're left- or right-handed.


When to seek medical advice

You should see your GP if you notice the symptoms of Dupuytren's contracture. They can examine your hand and may refer you to a hand specialist, who can assess whether treatment is necessary.

Read more about diagnosing Dupuytren's contracture.

Causes of Dupuytren's contracture

Causes of Dupuytren's contracture

Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's disease) occurs when cords of shortened connective tissue prevent you from fully extending your finger.

It's not known why this happens, but there are several factors that make it more likely to develop.

Genetics seems to be the most significant factor, as 4 to 7 in every 10 people with the condition have a family history of it.

It's also more common and often more severe in men over the age of 50.


As a significant number of people with Dupuytren's contracture have other family members with the condition, it's thought to be an autosomal dominant disorder that can be passed on by your parents.

Autosomal dominant means you only need to inherit the gene that causes the condition from one of your parents, rather than both.

Dupuytren's contracture is also more common in people of northern European descent, which suggests that genes play a role in the condition.

Read more about genetics and genetic inheritance.

Other possible factors

There are a number of health problems that may also increase your chances of developing Dupuytren's contracture:  

  • diabetes - a long-term health condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high
  • treatment for epilepsy with medications called anticonvulsants
  • heavy drinking or smoking

However, many people with Dupuytren's contracture aren't affected by these problems and some studies suggest that the link isn't significant.

A previous injury to the hand - such as a broken wrist - has also been associated with an increased risk of Dupuytren's contracture, but it's not clear how this may lead to the condition.

Dupuytren's contracture is generally not thought to be related to manual work or using vibrating tools, although some recent studies suggest there may be a link.

Diagnosing Dupuytren's contracture

Diagnosing Dupuytren's contracture

See your GP if you think you have Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's disease). The first step is to examine your palm and hand for signs of the condition.

Characteristic signs of Dupuytren's contracture are:

  • lumps of tissue (nodules)
  • dimples or pitted marks
  • thickened skin
  • bent fingers

Dupuytren's contracture affects everyone differently, so you'll be asked about any specific symptoms you have and any problems with carrying out daily activities. Some people are troubled by quite a minor deformity, while others are able to cope with a major one.

If you're unable to fully extend one of your fingers, your GP may refer you to a specialist at a local hand surgery unit for further assessment and any necessary treatment.

Assessing the need for treatment


In mild cases, no treatment may be recommended, because there's a chance the condition won't get any worse. If the condition is more severe, treatment with medication or a minor procedure called a needle fasciotomy may be recommended.


Read more about treating Dupuytren's contracture.

Treating Dupuytren's contracture

Treating Dupuytren's contracture

Treatment for Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's disease) is usually only required if the condition affects the function of your hand. Many cases are mild and don't need to be treated.

The treatment used largely depends on the severity of the condition. In milder cases that require treatment, non-surgical treatments or a minor procedure called a needle fasciotomy may be recommended.

For more severe cases, surgery is an effective and widely used treatment. The two most common surgical procedures are an open fasciotomy and a fasciectomy.

These treatments are described in more detail below.

Non-surgical treatments

Non-surgical treatment options for Dupuytren's contracture may include radiation therapy and a medicine called collagenase clostridium histolyticum. These are generally most effective if used before the condition becomes severe.

Radiation therapy

In 2010, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued guidance about the use of radiation therapy to treat Dupuytren's contracture. Radiation therapy aims to prevent or delay the need for surgery.


The radiation doses are spread over several consecutive days. After a few weeks, the treatment can be repeated, if necessary.

It's not known exactly how radiation therapy works, but it's thought the radiation affects the development and growth rate of fibroblasts in your hand. Fibroblasts are cells that produce and release collagen (the protein that forms the main part of the body's connective tissue).

In one of the studies reviewed by NICE, the symptoms of Dupuytren's contracture had improved in over half of the hands that were treated after one year. In another long-term study, two-thirds of people had some degree of symptom relief after 13 years.


Radiation therapy may not be suitable for everyone with Dupuytren's contracture. If you're offered radiation therapy, you should be aware of the uncertainty about its effectiveness and the possible - although very small - long-term risk that radiation may cause cancerous tumours.

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is a medicine that can be injected into cords in the palm of your hand. The medicine contains special proteins that can weaken the cords.

After having the injection, you'll be monitored for around half an hour and then you can go home. You return to your doctor 24 hours later and they'll straighten your bent finger and stretch it out for 10 to 20 seconds. This breaks the cord and should help to increase the range of movement in your bent finger.

Don't attempt to straighten your finger yourself within the first 24 hours, or squeeze or press the cord. Keeping your finger bent encourages the injected medicine to stay in the cord, which is where it needs to be. It also helps to keep the hand elevated to reduce swelling and prevent the medication leaking out.

If the first injection isn't effective, you can have up to three injections in the same cord, with one month between each injection.

The most common side effects occur around the site of the injection and include:

  • swelling
  • itching
  • bruising
  • discolouration of skin, caused by bleeding
  • pain


As with radiation therapy, the long-term effects of collagenase clostridium histolyticum are unknown. It may also not be widely available.

Needle fasciotomy


It's usually performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you won't need to be admitted to hospital. You'll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your hand without making you lose consciousness.


By dividing the thickened tissue, your surgeon will release the tightness in your hand that's forcing your finger to bend. The benefits of needle fasciotomy include:

  • your fingers are less deformed
  • you recover more quickly compared to more extensive surgery
  • it's suitable for people who are unable to have more extensive surgery, such as the very frail or elderly
  • it has a low risk of complications (around 1%) 

However, the rate of recurrence for Dupuytren's contracture is very high: as many as 60% of people who have a needle fasciotomy experience Dupuytren's contracture again within three to five years.

Open fasciotomy

An open fasciotomy is sometimes used to treat more severe cases of Dupuytren's contracture. The procedure is more effective in the long term than a needle fasciotomy, but it's also a more extensive operation and carries some additional risks (see below).


After the surgery has finished, the cut on your hand is sealed with stitches and a dressing is applied. The recovery time for an open fasciotomy is slightly longer than that of a needle fasciotomy, because the wound will need time to heal.

Following the procedure, it's likely that you'll need to make another appointment to have your stitches removed, and you may be left with a small scar.



  • regional fasciectomy - where the affected connective tissue is removed through a single, larger incision; this is the most commonly used type of surgery for Dupuytren's contracture
  • segmental fasciectomy - where one or more small cuts are made in the skin, through which small segments of connective tissue are removed
  • dermofasciectomy - where the affected connective tissue is removed, along with the overlying skin (which may also be affected by the disease) and the wound is sealed with a skin graft (where healthy skin is removed from another part of the body and used to cover the area of skin loss in your hand)

A fasciectomy is usually carried out under general anaesthetic. This means you'll be unconscious throughout the procedure and unable to feel pain. In some cases, regional anaesthetic may be used. This is where local anaesthetic is injected into the nerves near your neck, to numb your whole arm, but you remain conscious.

During the procedure, an incision will be made in your hand and the affected connective tissue will be removed. If it's necessary to seal the wound using a skin graft, your surgeon will take a graft from an area of your body that's usually covered by clothing, such as your upper arm, the front side of your elbow or your groin.

A fasciectomy is a more extensive operation than a fasciotomy, so the risk of complications is slightly higher, at around 5% (see below). However, the results are longer-lasting. For example, the rate of recurrence of Dupuytren's contracture following dermofasciectomy may be as low as 8%.

Read about plastic surgery techniques for more information on skin grafts.

Surgery risks



  • splitting the skin with the needle during a needle fasciotomy
  • damage to the nerves supplying sensation to your fingertips - the nerves can be repaired, but it's unlikely the fingers will recover their full sensation
  • joint stiffness - this can be helped with hand therapy (see recovering from Dupuytren's contracture for more information)
  • wound failure - the wound or graft failing to heal (more likely to occur if you smoke)
  • infection of the wound - usually treated with antibiotics
  • scarring
  • complex regional pain syndrome - a rare complication that causes the hand to become painful, stiff and swollen after surgery; it usually resolves within a few months, although it can sometimes be permanent
  • finger loss (although this is very unlikely)

Discuss the risks of the surgical procedures used to treat Dupuytren's contracture with your surgeon.

Read more about recovering from Dupuytren's contracture surgery.


Recovering from surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture

Recovering from surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture

It can take a long time to recover full or partial function of the hand after surgery for Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's disease). Generally, the more extensive your surgery, the longer your recovery time.

It's important to discuss your recovery and any aftercare procedures you may need with your specialist before having surgery.

Hand therapy


  • physiotherapy - this could involve a number of techniques to help improve your range of movement, including massage, manipulation and exercise

How long you'll need to have treatment or assistance for depends on the type of surgery you've had. For example, you may need hand therapy for up to six months after more extensive procedures.

Hand splinting

Splinting usually involves bandaging your fingers to a plastic strip while they're in the straightest position you find comfortable. Splinting may initially be recommended all day, before being used only at night, and then not at all.

Splinting isn't currently a standard procedure and some specialists prefer not to use splints. When splints are used, there's often wide variation in the length of time they're used for, the position of the fingers and how much force is used to keep the fingers straight.

Some specialists believe splints can positively influence the way that scar tissue forms after surgery, so that the scar doesn't contract and cause the condition to return. Others believe splints can cause unnecessary pain, joint stiffness and swelling (oedema), so prefer not to use them.

Several research studies have been carried out to try to determine whether or not using splints is effective in the recovery of Dupuytren's contracture.

One study found that there was no difference between the range of hand movement experienced by a group of people who were routinely splinted after having types of surgery called a fasciectomy or a dermofasciectomy, and a group who received hand therapy and were only splinted if contractures occurred.



Work and sport

When you'll be able to return to work depends on the nature of your job and the type of operation you've had.



Surgery can help improve hand function in people affected by contractures, but it doesn't stop the process that caused the contracture to develop in the first place. Therefore, there's a chance the condition may return in the same place, or it may reappear somewhere else after treatment.

Recurrence is more likely to occur in younger people, people who had a severe contracture and those with a strong family history of the condition.

