Baron Guillaume Dupuytren: Dupuytren's Contracture

Abstract

Dupuytren's contracture of the hand is an extremely common deformity in middle aged and elderly men but it is rarely encountered in women. It usually involves the fifth and fourth fingers, less commonly the other two fingers, and never the thumb. There is a flexion deformity between the head of the metacarpal and the adjacent proximal phalanx and at the proximal interphalangeal joint. However, the distal interphalangeal joint is not affected. Indeed, in a severe case, the distal phalanx may actually be extended as it becomes progressively pressed into the palm of the hand. It is often bilateral and may affect the sole of the foot - although I have only had one old gentleman where his foot lesion troubled him enough for him to request surgical cure.