Blog
Pregnancy, Dupuytren’s and Relaxin
Relaxin is a natural hormone which does many things and normally increases during pregnancy. It has been shown to have a range of antifibrotic actions: it inhibits collagen synthesis, increases collagenase activity, inhibits the profibrotic factors TGFß and Interleukin1-ß, and prevents fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts. How does it work? Is
A Surgeon’s Perspective of Dupuytren’s
A very readable review of Dupuytren’s Disease from a surgeon’s perspective: https://www.dupuytrens.org/DupPDFs/1985_Hill.pdf
To understand Dupuytren’s, first understand women.
Is Dupuytren’s a tumor – an independent growth, or is it a reaction of normal tissues to a stimulus? Is a woman one person or several people sharing the same body? This paper answers both questions. Every female human has two X chromosomes, one from each parent, but in any
Fasciotomy versus fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s
Fasciectomy and fasciotomy were compared in this study with some interesting observations. Initially after procedure, fasciotomy was better than fasciectomy in straightening fingers, but this advantage was lost over time as fasciotomy had earlier recurrences than fasciectomy. Fasciectomy had better results at correcting PIP joint contractures, both early and late.
Partial Fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s
Dupuytren’s patients need two things: first, a way to prevent disease progression and recurrence; second, the simplest, safest way to straighten fingers bent by Dupuytren’s. While working and waiting on the first, there are choices for the second. One of these is limited or partial fasciectomy, which has the advantage
TGF-ß2 and Dupuytren’s
What if Dupuytren’s is due to slightly abnormal levels of a normal hormone, protein or other molecule in the system? If so, one of the most likely suspects would be Transforming Growth Factor Beta Two: TGF-ß2. This protein is part of the autocrine system (a chemical instant messaging system which
Deformity, aggressiveness and severity of Dupuytren’s
When is the most effective time to treat Dupuytren’s and what is the best treatment? These are not easy questions. Dupuytren’s responds differently and recurs differently in different people: starting with the same deformity (how bent the fingers are), people who do worse are described as having “aggressive” Dupuytren’s. Severity
Sex and Dupuytren’s in Boston
Dupuytren’s is fairly common in Boston, but seems different than the European flavor in terms of sex. The numbers on almost 2000 Boston Dupuytren’s patients were sorted out, and here’s how things roll in Boston: men develop Dupuytren’s almost twice as often as women, but it may seem like more
Monkey model for Dupuytren’s
An experimental monkey model of Dupuytren’s Disease was performed to confirm or refute the microtrauma hypothesis of Dupuytren’s. The outcome: the reaction to rupture of the palmar fascia produced lesions identical to those of early Dupuytren’s, although did not lead to contractures during the period of study. The conclusion was
Recent Dupuytren Publications
- Mortality in patients with Dupuytren's disease in the first 5 years after diagnosis: a population-based survival analysis
- The impact of rising NHS waiting list times on elective surgery for Dupuytren's disease
- Comparing Complications and Patient Satisfaction Following Injectable Collagenase Versus Limited Fasciectomy for Dupuytren's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Pain-Relieving Effects of Shockwave Therapy for Ledderhose Disease: An Ultrasound-Based Study of an Unusual Bilateral Case
- Surgery, Needle Fasciotomy, or Collagenase Injection for Dupuytren Contracture : A Randomized Controlled Trial