Dupuytren’s disease is an abnormal tightening and thickening of the normally flexible and loose tissue under the skin of the fingers and palm, called fascia. Most often, the ring and pinkie fingers are affected. Both hands are generally involved, although one may have worse symptoms than the other.
What causes Dupuytren’s contracture?
Dupuytren’s contracture is thought to run in families. The exact cause is still not known. It is related to nutritional deficiencies, cigarette smoking, medicines to treat seizures, alcoholism, or diabetes.
Early Signs of Dupuytren’s Contracture
Thickening the skin on the palm is the common early sign of Dupuytren’s Contracture. The skin appears puckered as knots of hard tissue start to form on your palm. These nodules feel tender to the touch but usually not painful. The thickening of the skin generally happens very slowly. You don’t need treatment if the symptoms don’t bother you.
How Dupuytren’s symptoms progress with time:
The symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease show up in phases:
Nodules: These lumps beneath the skin of the palm are the first symptoms for many people. The lump feels sore and tender at first, but this uneasiness eventually disappears.
Cords: The nodules form a tough band, and these inflexible bands are known as cords. This causes the fingers to bend, or “curl,” toward the wrist.
Contracture: As the bending of fingers gets worse, it gets hard to stretch the fingers. People with early signs of Dupuytren’s Contracture often face difficulty grabbing things, picking up large objects, or doing something that you might do every day.
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