Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Removes affected tissue in your hand to help straighten out your fingers
Dupuytren’s contracture is hand condition where your fingers are bent towards your palm and cannot be fully straightened. It occurs when tissue in your palm thickens and can pull your finger towards your palm.
It may be treated by an operation to remove affected tissue, the usual operation for Dupuytren’s contracture is called palmar fasciectomy.
Same day discharge
General or local
Yes
60 minutes
Yes
You’ll meet your consultant in one of our private consultation rooms. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.
We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests such as scans or blood tests are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.
The usual operation for Dupuytren’s contracture is called palmar fasciectomy.
It may be performed under general anaesthesia, which means you’ll be asleep throughout the procedure, but it can also be done under regional anaesthesia (local anaesthetic), which means you’ll be awake but your hand will be numb. The operation may take an hour or more, depending on how many fingers are involved.
The operation involves the removal of a section of the tissue (the fascia) under the skin on the palm of the hand.
A palmar fasciectomy operation can be performed as a day case, but occasionally you may need to spend one night in hospital.
Once the local anaesthesia wears off, it is likely that you will have some pain or discomfort for a few days.
When you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange for a friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive until advised by your surgeon.
Your hand will probably be swollen and bruised after the operation, but this should settle down in two to three weeks.
The scar may be tender for a couple of months and the surrounding skin may become very dry. This can usually be relieved with a moisturiser.
Although surgery can help to improve the flexibility in your fingers, it does not stop the process of Dupuytren’s disease. The contracture may return and require another operation.
Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still here when you need us.
After Dupuytren’s contracture surgery, we will provide you with all the appropriate medication, physiotherapy exercises, advice on what to do and not to do with your hand and follow-up support.
Typically your consultant will want to see you after your treatment to see how you’re doing. You might also be seen by a physiotherapist if your hand becomes stiff and painful.
A follow up appointment will be made before you leave the hospital.
If you have any questions or concerns about your recovery you can call and speak to a member of the nursing team at any time, please call 01424 757459.
Dupuytren’s contracture often runs in families and factors including smoking diabetes and taking certain medications may trigger the condition if you have the gene for it.
The condition affects men more than women with most cases in men over 50 and women over 60.
Your doctor may suggest surgery if other treatments have not helped you.
Your surgery will be performed by your consultant surgeon.
On rare occasions, complications following Dupuytren’s contracture surgery can occur.
The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation you are having and other factors such as your general health.
Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.
If you have any questions or concerns about your recovery you can call and speak to a member of the nursing team at any time, please call 01424 757459.
Speak to a member of our team
01424 757400 
info@sussexpremierhealth.com 
01424 757400