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HomeAbout Prognosis and impactsIncidence and risk factorsSymptomsPreparation Timing Costs Surgical team Finding an experienced surgeon Facilities Causes and effectsDiagnosis and evaluation Management and treatment Coping

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Information for patients with Dupuytren's Disease.

Edited By: Thomas Trumble, M.D.
Last updated Wednesday, January 12, 2005

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Symptoms

Preparation

Usually patients are instructed not to eat or drink anything after midnight prior to the day of surgery. This is to ensure that the stomach is empty. If patients eat on the day of surgery and have a general anesthetic, they risk vomiting and aspirating. This means that vomit enters the lungs — a complication that can cause serious infections and death.

Timing

Surgery can safely be delayed until the disease has progressed to the point that it is interfering with the patients daily activities. At this point, surgery is indicated if the surgeon feels that the patient would benefit.

Costs

The surgeon's office should provide a reasonable estimate of:

the surgeon's fee,
the hospital fee, and the degree to which these should be covered by the patient's insurance.

Surgical team

Surgery for Dupuytren's contracture should be performed by a surgeon with additional training in hand surgery. Hand surgeons can be orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons or general surgeons who have received training in hand surgery.

Finding an experienced surgeon

Most hand surgeons are familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of Dupuytren's disease. Hand surgeons are usually orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, or general surgeons with extra training in hand surgery. In general, primary care providers can arrange a referral to a qualified surgeon. The homepage of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) provides contact information for qualified hand surgeons (www.assh.org).

Facilities

Because patients can usually be discharged home on the day of surgery, surgery for Dupuytren's disease can be performed in large hospitals or smaller OR settings.

Surgery for Dupuytren's Disease at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington

If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-BONE (2663) to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USA

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