Dupuytren’s surgery
Plastic Surgery Queensland
Suite 2.01
Mater Private Clinic
550 Stanley Street
South Brisbane QLD 4101
Plastic Surgery Queensland
Gold Coast
109 W. Burleigh Road
Burleigh Waters QLD 4220
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Dupuytren’s disease can cause tissue in the palm to tighten, pulling one or more fingers into a bent position. Hand surgery may be considered when this affects hand function or when you cannot place your hand flat.
Dupuytren’s contracture surgery Brisbane & Gold Coast
When do you need surgery for Dupuytren’s disease?
Dupuytren’s surgery is performed to treat contractures caused by Dupuytren’s disease. This condition causes thickened tissue in the palm to tighten over time, sometimes pulling one or more fingers into a bent position.
When the finger can no longer straighten properly, it can affect everyday hand function. You may notice difficulty placing your hand flat on a table, putting your hand into a pocket, wearing gloves, using tools, washing your face or shaking hands.
Hand surgery may be considered when the palmar contracture is extensive, when you cannot place your palm flat on a table, or when a digit is involved.
Not every patient with Dupuytren’s disease needs an operation, and this will be carefully assessed during consultation.
Plastic Surgeon Brisbane & Gold Coast, BSc, MBBS, FRACS (Plast)
Before planning surgery, I will examine your palm, fingers, skin and joints. I will assess which cords are involved, how much the finger can straighten and whether there is stiffness in the joints.
We will also discuss your medical history, previous hand surgery, medications, allergies, work requirements and recovery needs. If you take blood-thinning medication or have diabetes, smoking history or wound healing concerns, this is important to discuss before surgery.
The aim of consultation is to make sure you understand what surgery can and cannot achieve. Some patients are best managed with observation, particularly when the nodules or contractures are mild and hand function is not significantly affected.
Hand surgery for Dupuytren’s disease
Dupuytren’s surgery: step by step
Anaesthetic
Dupuytren’s surgery is usually performed as a day surgery procedure. Depending on the extent of the disease and your individual needs, it may be performed under local, regional or general anaesthetic.
You will meet the theatre team before surgery, and the anaesthetic plan will be explained to you before the procedure begins.
Incisions
Once the hand is prepared, incisions are made in the palm and, if needed, into the affected finger.
The incision pattern depends on where the Dupuytren’s cords are located and how far the contracture extends. These incisions are planned carefully so the affected tissue can be reached while protecting the small nerves, blood vessels and tendons in the hand.
Removing the affected tissue
The thickened Dupuytren’s tissue is carefully separated from the surrounding structures and removed or released.
The aim is to improve finger position and mobility by freeing the contracture. In more advanced cases, the joints may also be stiff from being bent for a long time, so full correction is not always possible. I will discuss this with you before surgery so your expectations are clear and realistic.
Closing the incisions
Once the affected tissue has been treated, the incisions are closed and dressings are applied.
The hand is protected while the early healing begins. In more advanced cases, the surgical plan may need to be adjusted depending on skin tightness, joint stiffness and the pattern of the disease.
Dupuytren’s disease can come back over time, even after careful surgery. This will be discussed with you during your consultation.
All surgery has risks. Specific risks include bleeding, infection, swelling, scarring, stiffness, delayed wound healing, altered sensation, nerve or blood vessel injury, tenderness, incomplete correction and recurrence of Dupuytren’s disease.
These risks are discussed during consultation, including any factors that may be more relevant to your hand, health or work.
Where do you operate?
I consult from my private rooms at Mater Private Clinic and I operate as a plastic surgeon at many private hospitals in Brisbane, Queensland.
I can see Gold Coast patients from my private rooms: Shop 9/109 West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Waters. I operate at
Recovery after Dupuytren's Surgery | Plastic surgeon brisbane and gold coast
Recovery and hand therapy
You will go to recovery and, in most cases, return home the same day.
After surgery, hand therapy is often an important part of recovery. Therapy may include exercises, swelling management, scar care and splinting. A night splint is commonly worn for 6 to 8 weeks to help maintain finger position while healing occurs.
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