The Treatment of Dupuytrenʼs Contracture by Partial Fasciectomy

Abstract

A conservative method of partial palmar fasciectomy for Dupuytren's contracture through multiple, short, longitudinal, palmar skin incisions and conventional finger incisions has been presented. Thirty-seven patients with fifty-one hands treated by this method during the past nine years have been under observation. Forty-one hands were classified excellent; five, good; three, fair; and two, poor-one seven years after operation. All hands except two have been markedly improved and no serious complications have occurred. One of the patients with poor results had had an excellent result until a brachial plexus injury was sustained in the involved extremity. The present series is small and a longer observation is necessary, but the described surgical procedure has been followed by rapid wound healing, low morbidity, early return to work, no significant complications, and satisfactory results.