Dupuytren's disease: analysis of 110 patients on a long-term follow-up

The analysis of the surgical therapy results of 110 patients suffering from Dupuytren's disease with an average follow-up of seven years is presented. This was done using the Tubiana staging system, the basis of which is carefully explained in the paper. By determining the recurrence rate (46.4%) and the extension rate (19.2%) in 125 operated hands, the importance and the gravity of recurrence in each of the 292 hand rays is emphasized. The influence on recurrence and extension of factors usually associated with Dupuytren's disease and the relationship between the severity of the initial stages of the disease and recurrence was studied. It was concluded that early surgical intervention, especially in patients under 50 years of age or presenting with ectopic deposits, is effective in lessening the frequency of recurrence.