Dupuytren's Disease

Dupuytren’s disease (also called Dupuytren’s contracture) is a common genetic hand disorder which affects the fingers. Dupuytren’s disease occurs when the tissue under the skin on the palm of the hand and fingers tightens. Small bumps or nodules grow on the tissue in the hand, which can eventually form thick cords under the skin. This causes the fingers to bend to the point that they cannot straighten. 
Dupuytren’s disease is most common in males and people of European descent. However, conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy and HIV or AIDS can increase the likelihood of Dupuytren’s disease developing. Symptoms can take months or years to present.
Symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease include:

• Inflammation

• Tenderness or pain and itching (most commonly on the ring and pinkie finger

• Inability to straighten fingers

There are several treatment options for Dupuytren’s, and these vary depending on the severity of symptoms. Early on, treatments may include physical therapy exercises, bracing and splinting, ultrasonic or heat treatments and sometimes corticosteroid injections. Other helpful treatments are radiation (to soften nodules), needle aponeurotomy (to release tension in fingers) and collagenase injections (to break down nodules).
If the symptoms affect quality of life, surgery is recommended. The surgery is an outpatient procedure where local anaesthetic is used. The surgeon will remove some or all of the affected tissue.

British Society for Surgery of the Hand advice