Treating Dupuytren's Contracture
Dupuytren's contracture affects the connective tissue under the skin of your palm. Slowly, over many years, the condition causes one or more fingers (most often the ring finger or pinky) to be pulled into a bent position, so you cannot completely straighten the fingers. Dupuytren’s contracture usually starts with the skin on your palm becoming thick and dimpled. Very gradually, it leads to the affected fingers being pulled toward the palm. Symptoms vary; for instance, you may only have a lump or a thick cord in your palm, or your fingers may bend so much that it is harder to do things like holding objects or putting your hands in your pockets. The cause of Dupuytren’s contracture is unknown, but it is often inherited and it may be an autoimmune disease. The condition can occur in one or both hands, and is usually painless.
Diagnosing Dupuytren’s Contracture
Doctors can typically diagnose Dupuytren’s contracture by conducting a “tabletop test.” The doctor simply looks at your hands to see if you can lay your hand, palm down, flat on a table. If you cannot lay your hand flat, you have a contracture.
Therapy Support & Medications
If your contracture does not bother you or does not make it hard to do everyday tasks, you may not need treatment. If it progresses or gets worse, the problem cords will need either to be “broken” or removed.
Needling
With a procedure called needling or needle aponeurotomy, the doctor uses a needle to go through your skin to puncture and “break” the cord. The doctor can treat several fingers at the same time with needling. The contracture may come back, but needling can be repeated.
Surgery
Some patients may need surgery to remove the tissue affected by the contracture. Surgery often restores the most movement to the fingers; however, the recovery can take a long time, and physical therapy may be needed, as well as skin grafts.
Medication
The drug XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), from Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the newest therapy for Dupuytren’s contracture when a cord can be felt. XIAFLEX is injected into your palm by your doctor, and breaks down the affected cord. The day after the injection, your doctor manipulates your hand to try to straighten your fingers. XIAFLEX can help straighten your fingers as well as restore movement in them.
Your Partner in Therapeutic Success
CoramRx is part of a limited specialty network that supplies XIAFLEX to physicians across the country. We can deliver XIAFLEX, as prescribed, to your doctor’s office. We can also assist you with insurance billing and provide information about the XIAFLEX copay assistance program. With our specialized pharmacy teams and our network of over 85 locations across the country, CoramRx can service all of your specialty pharmacy needs.
Patient Resources
The organizations listed below offer a variety of services and resources for consumers and caregivers. Please note that some organizations may charge a fee for access to services. This listing is not an endorsement of these organizations, or information they may disseminate. We strongly suggest you discuss any information you receive from these organizations with a qualified professional before making any changes in your healthcare, insurance coverage or home care provider.
International Dupuytren Society
FDA: Disposing Unused Medication — government guidelines for disposing unused medicine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) worked with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop the first consumer guidance for proper disposal of prescription drugs.
Learn More
- To learn more about your options for managing Dupuytren's contracture and about CoramRx, please contact us.
- To enroll as a Dupuytren's contracture patient with CoramRx, please complete our
Patient Enrollment Form.