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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Signs and symptoms of Dupuytren's contracture may include:
- At first, a thickening of the skin on the palm of your hand. As the condition progresses, the skin on the palm of your hand may appear dimpled.
- Formation of a firm lump of tissue on your palm. This lump may be sensitive to the touch, but usually isn't painful.
- In later stages, formation of cords of tissue form under the skin on your palm that may extend up to your fingers. As these cords tighten, your fingers may be pulled toward your palm, sometimes severely.
Which fingers are most likely affected
Dupuytren's contracture most commonly affects your ring finger and your little finger, though your middle finger also may be involved. Only rarely are your thumb and index finger affected. The condition often affects both hands, though one hand is usually affected more severely than the other.
Slow progression
Dupuytren's contracture typically progresses slowly, over several years. Occasionally it can develop over weeks or months. In some people it progresses steadily, and in others it may start and stop. In a few cases, Dupuytren's contracture may get better without treatment.
Some doctors prefer the term "Dupuytren's disease," rather than "Dupuytren's contracture," because some people don't experience the bent fingers — the contracture part of the disease.
