The Basics
Dupuytren’s disease, or Dupuytren’s contracture, is a condition of the hand in which the fingers flex and “contract,” or permanently curl into the palm. Dense nodules underneath the skin and pitting of the skin can also be present. The small finger and ring finger are most commonly affected, but any part of the hand can be involved.
As this disease progresses it becomes more difficult to extend the fingers and flatten the hand, making simple tasks like shaking hands, washing one’s face, or even reaching into a pocket, difficult if not impossible. Usually Dupuytren’s disease is painless.
Who was Guillaume Dupuytren?
Dupuytren’s contracture is named after the famous French anatomist and military surgeon Guillaume Dupuytren (1777-1835). Dupuytren was a medical prodigy. By age 20 he was appointed assistant surgeon at Paris’ Hôtel-Dieu. He developed one of the largest and most respected practices in all of Europe. His ability to diagnose and heal others earned him great fame and fortune. By all standards, he was a celebrity. He published articles describing contracture of the palmar fascia, as well as treatment techniques. In 1816 he was appointed head surgeon at Hôtel-Dieu, a position he held until his death.
Interestingly, Dupuytren’s contracture was not originally described by Guillaume Dupuytren, but rather by the Swiss physician Felix Plater (1536-1614). Plater described this contracture of the hand in 1614, nearly 150 years prior to Dupuytren’s birth.
