pecial features of surgical approach for patients with Dupuytren's contracture (our experience)

Objective. Although many years history of study, the issue of treating patients with Dupuytren's contracture keeps on being relevant. It is due to high incidence of this pathological condition among the population (up to 8.2%), the lack of a unified surgical treatment approach, and a high risk of postoperative complications (up to 40%). Existing approaches to the treatment do not ensure the absence of condition recurrence and are related to a long recovery period (up to 12 months).

Purpose of the study: to improve the outcomes and reduce the treatment period of the patients with Dupuytren's contracture by creating and integrating algorithm for choosing the optimal surgical intervention in clinical practice.

Material and methods. The study involved two parts. In the first part data of surgical treatment performed for 8962 patients with Dupuytren's contracture (10213 surgeries) operated during the period of 2007–2022 were analyzed. 6632 male (74%) and 2330 female (26%) were enrolled in the study. The patients’ mean age was (57 ± 6) years old (from 24 to 92 years old). 9396 needle fasciotomies (92%), 562 subtotal fasciectomies (5.5%), and 255 inspection interventions for recurrence after subtotal fasciectomy (2.5%) were performed.

In the second part of the study, we suggested a universal algorithm for choosing the optimal technique of surgical treatment of patients with Dupuytren's contracture, depending on the severity, the presence of concomitant skin problems in the operation site (tightening scars or trophic lesions), the number of recurrences, and the method having caused them.

Results and discussion. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 15 years. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the qDASH scale and the treatment satisfaction subjective scale. Perfect treatment outcomes were obtained in 56.8% of cases, good – in 28.2%, satisfactory – in 11.1%, and unsatisfactory – in 3.9% of cases. Complications (iatrogenic damage to the dactylar nerves and arteries, flexor tendons, ruptures and deep skin cracks, and superficial infectious complications) occurred in less than 8% of patients. Contracture recurrences were noted in 5370 cases (52.6%).

The analysis of our own 15-year experience (more than 10000 surgeries) as well as the study of colleagues’ experience (according to the literature) allowed us to formulate the guidance for choosing the approach of treating the patients with various forms of Dupuytren's contracture.

In primary Dupuytren's contracture, we recommend needle fasciotomy (or collagenase injections) as a quick, minimally invasive surgical procedure causing minimal complications and contraindications (less than 8%). In severe cases, rehabilitation under the monitoring of a hand physician is recommended after the surgery.

If the recurrence takes place after needle fasciotomy, a repeated minimally invasive procedure may be conducted. The condition recurring three or more times, we recommend considering the open surgery – subtotal fasciectomy accompanying by obligatory epidermic grafting (not palmar skin): cross-finger flap, dorsal metacarpal artery bond flap (Quaba/Maruyama), or full-thickness free skin graft taken from the forearm.

The recurrence after subtotal fasciectomy occuring, the presence of tightening scars and trophic lesions should be assessed. In some cases, the tightening scars lack, a needle fasciotomy may be conducted by specialists having mastered the technique. In other cases, trophic lesions absent, we consider the inspection subtotal fasciectomy accompanied by the obligatory closure of the soft tissue defect using a full-thickness skin autograft or bond flap (not palmar skin) must be performed.

Obligatory patients’ follow-up for two years (medical examinations every six months) after the surgery to identify the early signs of recurrence, collagenase or steroids injections into the palmar aponeurosis nodes (and/or physiotherapy with Fermencol) in case of disease progression, or prophylactic radiotherapy immediately after the surgery virtually allow to eliminate the risk of the condition recurrence.

Conclusions. Analysis of the treatment outcomes of patients with Dupuytren's contracture of varying severity allowed us to work out a universal algorithm for choosing the optimal tactics of surgical treatment of the condition enabling improving the outcomes, reducing the recovery period, and decreasing the risk of recurrence.

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