Collagenase clostridium histolyticum

Collagenase (Xiapex) is no longer available in Europe, Asia or Australia  as of the beginning of 2020, due to a decision made by the American manufacturer to withdraw the product from these markets. This was not done because of safety or efficacy concerns.

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH)by Endo as Xiaflex in the USA. From October 2014 it has been approved by the FDA in the USA for use in two cords at the same time.

Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum can be injected into the cord that has formed in the palm of your hand. The medicine contains special proteins that can break up the collagen fibres in the cord. This weakens the cord, eventually allowing the bent finger(s) to be straightened.

The injection is normally done on outpatient basis. The doctor may mark the site for the injections so that the enzyme is injected into the cords, avoiding tendons, nerves and other important structures. The injection has been described as feeling like a bee sting.

You return to the doctor 24 hours or more after the injection (up to a week sometimes), when under a local anaesthetic, the bent finger(s) are physically straightened and held stretched out for 10 to 20 seconds. This disrupts the strands in the cords and breaks the cord and should increase the range of movement in your bent finger.

You should not attempt to straighten your finger yourself within the first 24 hours, or squeeze or press the cord. Keeping your finger bent encourages the injected medicine to stay in the cord which is where it needs to be.

If the first injection is not effective, you can have up to three injections in the same cord, with one month between injections.

In one study looking into Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum, nearly two thirds of people could almost completely straighten their finger after the injections.

The patient leaflet for Xiaflex lists considerations when caution must be taken for using this treatment:

The most common side effects occur around the site of the injection. These include:

These should improve within a week or two. Less common side effects include feeling sick or dizzy, lumps in the glands under your arm, and there have been reports of new Dupuytren’s nodules flaring up.

An aftercare leaflet can be found here.

Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum is still a relatively new treatment. There are examples of results from short-term studies, but the long-term recurrence times or rates are unknown.