Abstract
Dupuytren’s disease is one of the fibro-proliferative conditions affecting the palmar
and digital fascia. This disease has been known to surgeons and treated by them for
at least 200 years. Dupuytren’s disease is very common in Northern Europe and also
in countries inhabited by immigrants from Northern Europe. Dupuytren’s contracture
is stated to be uncommon in Indian subcontinent and very little has been written about
this disease in India. The authors have however come across 30 patients with Dupuytren’s
contracture and they are the subject of this paper, with special emphasis on its surgical
correction and complications of surgical treatment. Patients were categorized into
stages I, II and III as per the severity of disease. Regional fasciectomy was performed
in 90% of the patients and extensive fasciectomy in 10% of patients. Most of wounds
were closed by primary closure with z-plasty. In rest of the patients free skin grafts
were used to close the wound, when primary closure was not possible. The patients
were followed up regularly for 5 years and the results of surgical treatment were
categorized into excellent, good, fair and poor. The results were excellent in 23
patients (76.66%), good in six patients (20%) and fair in one patient (3.33%). Post
operative edema and some stiffness was seen in two patients. Wound infection was seen
in one patient and haematoma in one patient. The correct surgical technique and meticulous
post operative care is needed to achieve higher rates of correction and to limit the
complications and recurrence.
Keywords
Dupuytren’s contracture - Regional fasciectomy - Extensive fasciectomy - Z-plasty
