Dupuytren’s Symptoms
As with any medical condition a diagnosis should made done by a medical doctor. The notes here are purely for information to help determine if you MAY have Dupuytren’s, and to help you discuss your condition with your doctor. We strongly encourage you to discuss all health concerns with your GP.
If you are diagnosed with Dupuytren’s, the first question in your mind is “why me”? This video help you deal with that question. Why me
Indications of Dupuytren’s Disease
Dupuytren’s disease usually causes changes in the palm of the hand, in some cases it can affect the fingers. The most common changes are nodules, pitting and cords which can result in contracture.
If you develop nodules in your handpalm, it could be Dupuytren’s. But there are other possibilities, and it is always best to see a qualified hand surgeon who can asses if it is indeed Dupuytren’s or if the lumps are caused by another disease.
If you are worried what will happen to your hands, this video might help: How bad will it get
This picture shows a nodule, pitting and contracture.
Dupuytren’s does not normally cause lumps on the back of the hand, except for lumps on the knuckles or finger joints which can be caused by the same type of tissue as nodules. These are called dorsal Dupuytren’s nodules or sometimes Garrod’s pads.
For a description of some Dupuytren’s related conditions see our webpage on this.
Sometimes the disease is painful, other people don’t experience pain. Many doctors think Dupuytren’s is by definition pain-free, but patients know better! Itching, burning or aching is also reported.
Nodules
The first symptom of Dupuytren’s many times is a lump or nodule that may reach up to a centimetre across.
It tends to start on the palm of the hand, usually in the area of the crease that forms when you bend your fingers. They most commonly present under the 4th and 5th finger (ringfinger and little finger). Nodules can also start in the fingers themselves or lower in the palm, but this is less common.
Picture shows 2 nodules in the palm
Nodules in many cases look similar to and can sometimes be mistaken for calluses.
Nodules can be painful. It’s important to note that the nodules may be painful initially, and then the pain may go away. Just because the pain goes away, does not mean that you don’t have Dupuytren’s. (picture shows nodules in the palm)
Pitting
Sometimes, there can be ‘pitting’ of the skin near the lumps. Pitting is literally small pits. They look as though the skin has been pulled into the palm of the hand (like the stitching on a leather sofa). Pitting usually occurs after nodules, but may appear on its own. It is thought to be a sign of a thin cord between the deeper fascia and the skin, that starts to contract.
Cords
Cords are rope or string like structures that often follow the direction of the bones and the tendons, but are situated between the skin (sometimes attached to the skin) and the tendons and bones. They feel like hard sticks/needles just under on in the skin and try to pull the fingers to the palm of the hand when they start contracting.
They run down the palm along the length of the finger tendons towards the base of the palm. They can also start in the finger and from there grow in the palm, or just stay in the finger. Cords can often be felt before they are visible, if you run your fingers over the palm of your hand and press lightly.
Cords run from the nodules and may initially appear either near the base of the finger or in the middle of the palm, although they may go all the way from finger base to the base of the palm as they grow and extend.
Cords from two different fingers may connect with each other in the palm of the hand.
Cords usually appear to grow from nodules, but in some cases they seem to appear without a distinct nodule.
Contracture
In simple terms, ‘contracture’ is ‘bending of the finger’.
Many people who have nodules or cords may never develop a contracture, but some will. Doctors tend to measure the degree of contracture, to determine the severity of the disease. You can do this yourself as well.
In those patients after some time, usually months or years the cords may start to cause a contracture.
After a while (normally months to years) the affected finger(s) may not straighten completely anymore (it becomes impossible to lay the hand flat on a table), and in the worst affected cases the finger(s) start to bend into the palm of the hand.
In order to monitor how fast your Dupuytren’s is changing, there are a few simple ways to keep track. The Dupuytren Research Group have a webpage with several options to follow the progress of any contracture you may have, and by doing that regularly (eg every few months) you know if anything is changing. Another way is by using white paper sheets and washable children’s paint, lightly cover your affected palm and the fingers of that hand and gently press on the paper, then let the impression dry. Keep the paper, do this every few months and you can tell if anything has changed.
What else could it be?
Lumps in the palm of the hand or foot, in the finger, or near other joints are not necessarily Dupuytren’s nodules, as there are other possible diagnoses. For example: ganglions, cysts, calluses, blisters, warts or other types of tumour.We list some of the most common lumps on our webpage ‘Lumps in the adult hand and wrist’
Lumps near or on a joint could also well be a mucoid cyst (also known as ganglion), which is a potentially painful cyst coming from a joint or tendon cover, filled with fluid.
Contracting lumps or bands could be ‘cicatricial contraction’, which is hard contracted scar tissue usually in the skin, not under it.
Bend pinky fingers have three other main diagnoses: camptodactyly, clinodactyly, Kirner’s disease. This page from Fife Hand Clinic explains more.
Swelling in the skin but not under it could be a callus or blister, which is an area of hardened and thickened skin, usually in reaction to repeated friction or pressure.
Swollen and painful tendons deeper under the skin can be a sign of tendonitis, and sometimes the tendon can prolapse and appear close to the skin surface.
Various types of benign or malignant tumours are also possible on the hands, feet and around joints.
Once you have been diagnosed as having Dupuytren’s disease, do you need treatment?
If it is not painful and not causing you any problems, we would advise to let your doctor monitor the situation and hold off on surgery. Treatment is not without risk of complications, and Dupuytren’s patients may tend to develop tight scars instead of healing nicely, so in some cases treatment, especially surgery can cause more problems than it cures if done too early. Many cases of Dupuytren’s disease either progress very slowly or not at all so that no treatment is needed. See this site for an excellent discussion.
Our resilience videos can help you decide what to do after you’ve been diagnosed.
These are video’s to help you cope with a Dupuytren’s diagnosis, finding your way through the (mis-)information out there, and moving forward.
If the lumps are painful, talk to your doctor. Radiation can help to stop the pain in many cases.
The severity of the disease can be described by a staging system:
Stage 0 – no disease
Stage N – palmar nodule, no contraction
Stage 1 – contraction up to 35 degrees
Stage 2 – contraction between 35 and 90 degrees
Stage 3 – contraction between 90 and 135 degrees
Stage 4 – contraction more than 135 degrees
Where the contraction or flexion (bend) is measured over all affected joints of the one finger
If you don’t have any pain, do the table-top test. Can you place the palm of your affected hand flat on a tabletop? If yes, you have are at Stage N or N1 of the disease and would not be considered for surgery at this stage.
If there are signs that the disease is active as indicated by pain, soreness, physical changes, then Radiotherapy can slow the progression and reduce the chance of reaching stage 2, 3 or 4. Otherwise it’s probably best to just keep a close watch on it, perhaps a photographic record with updates monthly to see if there are any changes.
If you can’t place the palm flat, and the affected fingers won’t straighten out completely, you have reached Stage N1 or 2 of the disease, and treatments to be considered are Needle Aponeurotomy or Collagenase Injections (these are only available in the USA).
If the finger is permanently bent towards the palm of the hand, you are at Stage 3 or 4 of the disease, you should consider whether you can benefit from surgical treatment.
Opinions on what is the best treatment at the different stages vary, so it will be best to discuss this with your hand orthopedic or plastic consultant. For this you will need a referral by your GP.