Dupuytren's Contracture
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Dupuytren's contracture is a specific type of fibromatosis, which simply means an overgrowth of connective tissue. Underneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue layers of the hand is a complex connective tissue layer, consisting of tendons and membranes such as the palmar aponeurosis. In fibromatosis, connective tissue thickens, shortens and develops small fibromas. When this happens in the palmar aponeurosis of the hand, it is referred to as Dupuytren's contracture.
An obvious symptom of this condition is the curling of the pinky and ring fingers downward. In severe cases, the middle finger may also curl down slightly. This is a result of the shortened tendons connecting to the fingers, and as the condition progresses the fingers are no longer able to fully straighten. Finger joints may become fixed and rigid, and often patients report pain, itching and aching sensations. Dupuytren's contracture gets progressively worse with time, and has been shown to have a high recurrence rate with traditional treatment options.
Shockwave therapy is an alternative, non-invasive treatment option that is yielding exciting results in many fibromatosis cases. At Granville Physio, your therapist will apply the shockwave head to the affected palmar area, helping to decrease the force of the contraction, and breaking down the fibromas over time. Using a pain scale of 1-10, it was found in one study that patients receiving treatment for severe fibromatosis showed a decrease from pain level 6 to pain level 1! In all patients, a softening of the fibromas was also reported. This was after only 1-3 treatments!
An obvious symptom of this condition is the curling of the pinky and ring fingers downward. In severe cases, the middle finger may also curl down slightly. This is a result of the shortened tendons connecting to the fingers, and as the condition progresses the fingers are no longer able to fully straighten. Finger joints may become fixed and rigid, and often patients report pain, itching and aching sensations. Dupuytren's contracture gets progressively worse with time, and has been shown to have a high recurrence rate with traditional treatment options.
Shockwave therapy is an alternative, non-invasive treatment option that is yielding exciting results in many fibromatosis cases. At Granville Physio, your therapist will apply the shockwave head to the affected palmar area, helping to decrease the force of the contraction, and breaking down the fibromas over time. Using a pain scale of 1-10, it was found in one study that patients receiving treatment for severe fibromatosis showed a decrease from pain level 6 to pain level 1! In all patients, a softening of the fibromas was also reported. This was after only 1-3 treatments!
