Dupuytren Disease-Prediction of the spiral nerve in Dupuytren's contracture

Prediction of the spiral nerve in Dupuytren's contracture

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Dupuytren's contracture is a condition characterized by contracture of the palmar fascia in the hand. This study investigates the presence of a spiral nerve in the disease and whether it can be predicted preoperatively. The researchers examined the preoperative findings of 276 patients with Dupuytren's contracture and found that 44 of them had a spiral nerve. They observed that the presence of a soft, pulpy mass of skin between the distal palmar confluence and the proximal finger crease accurately predicted the occurrence of a spiral nerve in 90% of cases. The small finger was most commonly associated with a spiral nerve, while the thumb and index fingers were never associated with it. The degree of contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint was also examined, and it was found that patients with a spiral nerve had an average contracture of 36°. The researchers concluded that the spiral nerve can be predicted based on the physical finding of a soft, pulpy mass of skin and the degree of contracture of the joint. They suggest that this finding can help guide surgical planning and improve outcomes for patients with Dupuytren's contracture.

Keywords

Dupuytren's contracture

palmar fascia

spiral nerve

preoperative prediction

soft pulpy mass

distal palmar confluence

proximal finger crease

small finger

proximal interphalangeal joint contracture

surgical planning