In modern medicine, Dupuytren's contracture is considered a fairly common problem. This disease is associated with the growth of connective tissue and the gradual scarring of the palmar fascia, which in turn leads to a restriction of the movement of the fingers. At a young age, the disease is extremely rare, but the risk of its development increases with age. In any case, the disease requires medical treatment.
Dupuytren's contracture: causes of the disease
In fact, the exact sources have not yet been established. And to this day, active research is being conducted on the disease. Now doctors can only indicate the main risk groups.
For quite a long time, it was believed that constant physical overload of the hand led to the development of contracture. But statistics show that far from always the reason lies precisely in this.
Of course, an inflammatory process in the tissues of the hand or some kind of infectious disease can lead to proliferation of connective tissue. Sometimes Dupuytren's contracture develops as a result of a pinched nerve or after a hand injury. Impaired tendon metabolism and nutrition can lead to the same result.
To the risk group can also be attributed diabetes. It has been proven that contracture is much more common among people with diseases of the endocrine system, including the pancreas and thyroid gland.
There is evidence that the disease can be inherited.
Of course, smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use and other bad habits only exacerbate the situation.
Dupuytren's contracture: symptoms and course of the disease
The first manifestation of the disease is the development of a small subcutaneous bump on the inside of the palm. As a rule, the disease affects the ring finger or little finger. At first, the presence of a tubercle does not cause discomfort. But as the disease develops, the connective tissue grows, the palmar fascia gradually contracts. As a result of this process, the affected finger slowly reaches forward. At later stages, it is almost impossible to straighten a finger (or fingers) - the hand partially loses its function. Quite often, contracture is accompanied by severe pain. In some cases, the disease affects both hands at once.
As for the duration of the disease, the time frame can be very different. In some people, the disease can persist for years at an early stage and can only be expressed by mild wrinkling of the skin. In others, on the contrary, the disease progresses rapidly.
Dupuytren's contracture: treatment
If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. After the examination, a series of tests and some studies, the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.
In the early stages, conservative treatment is used, the methods of which depend on the cause of the disease. For example, if no inflammatory processes were found in the tissues of the hand, then the patient is prescribed special massages and physiotherapy. If the cause is a violation of the nutrition of tissues, then it is advisable to take chondroprotectors. Direct injections are sometimes prescribed, during which special anti-inflammatory and nutrients are injected into the tendons. The same technique is used to stop pain - in this case, anesthetics and glucocorticoids are introduced into the tissue.
And, of course, medical gymnastics is necessary, the exercises for which the attending physician will select. "Physical education for the fingers" significantly speeds up the treatment and increases the amplitude of movements.
Unfortunately, conservative methods are not always effective. In some cases, surgical treatment of Dupuytren's contracture is simply necessary. The expediency of a surgical intervention is determined by the doctor - here a lot depends on the stage of development of the disease, the rate of its progression and the age of the patient. The essence of the operation is a partial or complete excision of the palmar fascia. In most cases, after the procedure, the mobility of the fingers returns to the patients.