Flare reaction refers to a disproportionate degree of swelling, pain and stiffness developing after surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture. Although commonly known, there is relatively little published on this. Flare shares some features with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, another poorly understood condition which is seen more often after Dupuytren’s surgery than other hand procedures. Flare reaction appears to be triggered by some combination of skin incisions and mechanical tension on the skin: it does not occur after needle aponeurotomy when a minimum number of portals are used. Flare reaction greatly prolongs recovery and may result in permanent stiffness of the hand. This article documents a case of flare reaction after fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s and reviews the difficult issues it presents: (full text: http://www.dupuytrens.org/DupPDFs/2008_Fournier_1045.pdf)
