Open palm technique for Dupuytren's disease. A five-year follow-up

One hundred and seven patients presenting 140 localizations of Dupuytren's disease were operated upon by a single surgeon before 1985, according to a modified Mac Cash procedure combining a Bruner approach and open transverse digital and/or palmar incisions. All surgery was performed under axillary block on an out-patient basis. A striking feature is the absence of complications such as haematoma, skin necrosis or infection. In the early post-operative follow-up (mean 105 days), the average angular improvement was 79.5% in all patients. Among the 107 patients, 54 (for a total of 67 localizations) were specifically reviewed with an average follow-up of 5.6 years. Improvement averaged 74% in 83.5% of digits. In the remaining 16.5%, the lack of extension averaged 31 degrees. Some factors had a negative effect on final results: early age of onset, major involvement of the PIP joint, localization at fifth ray level. The recurrence rate (41%, 23% of which severe) is identical to other reports on limited fasciectomy. A good indication is therefore a patient older than 50, and the method provided low postoperative morbidity and pain, associated with acceptable results.