Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a fixed flexion contracture deform- ity of the fingers that can cause progressive loss of hand function. It was first described by Felix Plater of Basel in 1614 (1). Henry Cline, from London, in 1777 was the first to recognize the role of the palmar fascia. However, in these early times confusion still existed as to whether the flexor tendons, their sheaths, or the palmar fascia were responsible for the finger contractures. Baron Guillaume Dupuytren, in France, in 1831 (2) correctly described the pathologic anatomy and performed surgery to correct the condition. Thus, the disorder now bears his name.