What is the best treatment for Dupuytren's Contracture?

Hello. Thank you for writing today.

For the benefit of our readers: a Dupuytren's contracture is a localized formation of scar tissue around the tendons that flex the fingers beneath the skin of the palm of the hand. The scarring accumulates in a tissue (palmar fascia) that normally covers the tendons that pull the fingers to grip. 

Treatment of a Dupuytren's contracture depends on the severity and the underlying condition of the affected individual and can include stretching exercises, heat, ultrasound or a cortisone injection which can help local inflammation. An injection of collagenase (Xiaflex) is an enzyme that breaks up the collagen, which can then loosen the contracted tissue to restore finger mobility. Collagenase is directly injected into the contracted "cord" of scar tissue that causes the Dupuytren's contracture. For patients with a significant fixed flexed posture of the fingers, (if nonsurgical treatments have not helped), surgical procedures can remove the scarred tissue to free the fingers and release the tendons.  So, what is the best treatment can differ from one patient to the other.

Helena