Dupuytren's contracture of the fingers: a simplified approach to the surgical treatment.

Hematoma formation, delay in healing, pain, stiffened finger joints are complications that sometimes follow classical surgical approaches to Dupuytren's contracture. A new surgical approach to the disease that can correct the contractures without the attendant morbidity is urgently needed. By treating Dupuytren's as any other scar contracture (division of the contracting soft tissue at its point of maximal tension and interposing normal free full-thickness skin) postoperative morbidity can be greatly decreased. Full return of function was achieved within 21 days following operation in 85 percent of the cases in which finger contractures were present before operation. Contracture release of 100 joints was done by this means, with loss of only one graft and without recurrence of the disease. This technique offers simple surgical control of progressive and recurrent Dupuytren's contracture of the fingers with minimal postoperative morbidity.