Dupuytren's Disease
When To Call a Doctor
Call a health professional if you notice:
- Dimples or knots in your palms, especially near the base of your fingers.
- An inability to flatten your hand, palm down, on an even surface.
- Pain in your palm or fingers.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your health professional observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. This period may vary from a few days to weeks, months, or years. Dupuytren's disease usually is a slowly progressing disease. If you are still able to move your fingers enough to do daily activities, you and your health professional may choose to continue regular checkups and hand exercises rather than surgery.
Who To See
Your family doctor, general practitioner, or nurse practitioner can diagnose Dupuytren's disease. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist or an orthopedic surgeon.
For treatment of severe cases of Dupuytren's disease, such as when you cannot use your hand for everyday activities, you will be referred to a hand surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon.
A physiotherapist or a hand therapist, or both, may be part of your treatment team and can teach you hand exercises to help maintain mobility.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment
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| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH Ralph Poore | Last Updated: May 22, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine David Pichora, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery | |
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