What to look for
It usually starts as a firm nodule or pit in the palm, which is often painless. Over months or years a cord can develop and draw the finger down, so the hand no longer lies flat on a table. It tends to run in families and is more common in men and with age.
When treatment is needed
Nodules that are not pulling the finger down usually just need monitoring; nothing is gained by operating early. Treatment is considered when the bend starts to interfere with daily life. A useful self-check is the table-top test: if you can no longer place your hand flat on a table, it is worth being assessed.
Treatment options
Needle fasciotomy divides the cord through a tiny puncture under local anaesthetic. Recovery is quick, though the contracture returns more often than after open surgery.
Fasciectomy is an operation to remove the diseased tissue through a zigzag incision in the palm and finger. It gives a more long-lasting and predictable correction, and is therefore the usual choice for established or recurrent contractures. Skin grafts are occasionally needed.
Recovery
After needle fasciotomy the hand is usable within days. After fasciectomy the hand is bandaged for a short period, hand therapy helps regain movement, and a night splint is sometimes used while the tissues settle. Dupuytren's disease can recur over the years with any technique, and this is discussed openly when choosing treatment.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. The British Society for Surgery of the Hand also publishes helpful patient guides. For advice about your own hand, book an assessment.