Today, we are talking about Dupuytren’s Contracture, this is a disease which causes mishappenings on the hands. A slight thickening and tightening of tissues are observed under the skin of the hand. It happens when one or more fingers bend in towards your palm and mainly affects the ring and little fingers. You might face this problem, simultaneously on both the hands. It tends to become worse over months or years. We are unable to do anything from our hand efficiently.

(People Also Like To Read: 18 Surprisingly Helpful Health Benefits of Omega-3)

What is Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Dupuytren’s contracture is a hand deformity. It affects a layer of tissue that lies under the skin of your palm. When one or more fingers bend in towards your palm and knots of tissue from under the skin eventually creating a thick cord that can pull one or more fingers into a bent position.

The affected fingers cannot be straightened completely, which can complicate everyday activities such as shaking hands, putting on gloves. It mainly affects the two fingers farthest from the thumb.

What are the Symptoms of Dupuytren’s?

There are mainly 10 symptoms of Dupuytren’s:

1. Tenderness

2. Soreness

3. Discomfort

4. Lumps

5.Inflexibility in hands

6. Thickening

7. Pain in fingers

8. Fingers bending toward the palm

9. Dimples or ridges on your palm

10. Facing difficulty with daily activities

11. You can’t able to put your hand down flat

What are the Causes of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

The causes of Dupuytren’s are biochemical factors that affect the palm. Injuries and overuse of the hand do not play a role. Tendons are not affected.

1. Smoking
2. Drinking Alcohol

What are the Risk Factors of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

There are majorly 6 risk factors of Dupuytren’s:

1.Tobacco and Alcohol

Drinking a lot of alcohol and intake of tobacco raises the chances of dupuytren’s contracture. Alcohol intake also is associated with Dupuytren’s.

2.Diabetes

People who have diabetes are reported to have an increased risk of Dupuytren’s.

4.Smoking

Smoking is injurious to your health. It increased the risk of Dupuytren’s perhaps because of microscopic changes within blood vessels caused by smoking.

5. Age

It appears most commonly after the age of 45- 50.

(You Might Also Like To Read: Best Protein Powder Supplements: Overview, Types and Side Effects)

What are the Complications of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Dupuytren’s contracture can make it difficult for you to perform particular functions using your hand. The thumb and index finger are not usually affected, many people don’t have much inconvenience or disability with fine major activities such as writing and typing. As it develops, it can limit your ability to fully open your hand, grasp large objects or to get your hand into narrow places.

There are a few complications which you might be facing such as:

1. Pain

2. Stiffness

3. Wound Infection

4. Scarring

5. Difficulty in moving hands.

What is the Treatment of Dupuytren’s Contracture?

There are 3 ways to treat dupuytrens:

1. Needling

In this technique, the needle has used a needle, inserted through your skin, to puncture and break the cord of tissue that’s contracting a finger. It is safe, easy and inexpensive. Complications can appear, but serious complications are unusual.

2. Injections

Injecting a type of enzyme into the taut cord in your palm can soften and weaken it allowing your doctor to later manipulate your hand and break the cord and straighten your fingers. The FDA has approved collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for this purpose.

3. Surgery

The surgery is for people who are suffering from advanced disease. The main and the best part to surgery is that it results in a more complete and longer-lasting release than that provided by the needle or enzyme methods.

Conclusion

In the above article, we have mentioned about Dupuytren’s contracture, Its symptoms, causes, complication, and treatment as well. It is divided into 3 categories like- Needling, injections, and Surgery. If you ever feel any of all above symptoms then consult to the doctor as earliest as you can.

(People Also Like To Read: Know More About Stages And Signs of Colon Cancer)