What's new in the treatment of Dupuytren's disease?

Among the recent advances in the field of Dupuytren's contracture, the authors reviewed a series of 171 patients treated by percutaneous needle fasciotomy. Among the 198 hands (241 fingers), 65 were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. Mean age was 62 years and delay between onset and treatment 6.8 years. Rupture of the cords was performed only in the palm in 154 cases, palmo-digital in 82 and purely digital in 5 cases. Complications were rare and benign without tendon or vascular bundle injury. Postoperative gain was essentially observed on the metacarpo-phalangeal joint and recurrence rate was high despite the short follow-up (progression of the disease 54% of cases). The ideal indication for this simple and reliable technique is an elderly patient with a prominent cord and predominant lack of metacarpophalangeal extension.