Dupuytren’s contracture is a progressive hand condition that affects how much you can move or straighten your fingers. It is caused by an abnormal buildup of a substance called collagen. In people with Dupuytren’s contracture, this collagen builds up and over time can thicken into a rope-like cord in your palm. These changes become more noticeable if fingers begin to bend toward the palm, so you cannot straighten them. It most commonly affects the MP joint (where the finger meets the palm) and PIP joint (the knuckle) in the ring finger and the little finger. Contracture may also occur in other fingers and joints, but this is less common.
Dupuytren’s contracture can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions such as arthritis or trigger finger, as there is some overlap in the symptoms of the different conditions, which may make it difficult to distinguish one from the other. Physiatrists are best suited to properly diagnose Dupuytren’s contracture.
Different people experience Dupuytren’s contracture in different ways, and the condition may continue to worsen over time. Although there is no cure, there is treatment available for adults with Dupuytren’s contracture.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a genetic condition, so it’s possible that multiple people in one family have it. It is sometimes referred to as a "Viking disease," but the condition actually affects people of all backgrounds. And while many people think that Dupuytren’s contracture is something that affects people over 65 years of age, it turns out that more than half of the people who have been diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture are under 65 years of age. Additionally, Dupuytren’s contracture doesn’t just affect men – many people diagnosed with Dupuytren’s are women.
XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with Dupuytren's contracture when a "cord" can be felt. Over time, the thickening and shortening of this cord in the hand can cause one or more fingers to bend toward the palm, so that the finger(s) cannot be straightened. XIAFLEX helps to break down the cord that is causing the finger to be bent.
XIAFLEX provides a treatment option that requires no incisions to administer and no physical therapy post treatment beyond finger exercises you can do at home. First, you receive the XIAFLEX injection. The next day, you come back to have the affected finger straightened. Thirty days later, you come back for a follow-up visit.