Current trends in the surgical management of Dupuytren’s disease in Europe: an analysis of patient charts

INTRODUCTION: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) causes progressive digital flexion contracture and is more common in men of European descent. METHODS: Orthopaedic and plastic surgeons in 12 European countries (the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK) with >3 and <30 years experience reviewed the medical charts of five consecutive patients they had treated surgically for DD in 2008. Descriptive statistics are reported. RESULTS: In total, 3,357 patient charts were reviewed. Mean (standard deviation) patient age was 61.9 (10.2) years; 81% were men. At the time of the procedure, 11% of patients were at Tubiana stage Ia (0–20° total flexion); 30%, stage Ib (21–45°); 34%, stage II (46–90°); 17%, stage III (91–135°); and 5%, stage IV (>135°). Percutaneous needle fasciotomy was performed in 10%, fasciotomy in 13%, fasciectomy in 69% and dermofasciectomy (DF) in 6% of patients. After surgery, fingers improved a mean of 1.9 Tubiana stages, and 54% of patients had no nodules or contracture. The rate of reported complications during the procedure was 4% overall (11% in patients undergoing DF). The most common postoperative complications reported were haematoma (8%), wound healing complications (6%) and pain (6%). No postoperative complications were reported in 77% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this European study of more than 3,000 patients with DD, most patients were diagnosed at Tubiana stage I or II, the majority received fasciectomy and more than half had no nodules or contracture remaining after surgery. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12570-012-0092-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.