Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Human Dupuytren's Ex Vivo Culture for the Study of Myofibroblasts and Extracellular Matrix Interactions
Published on: April 18, 2015
Needle Fasciotomy or Collagenase Injection in the Treatment of Dupuytren's Contracture: A Retrospective Study
Islam Abdelrahman1,2,3, Moustafa Elmasry1,2,3, Ingrid Steinvall1,2
1Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Burns, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Abstract:
Dupuytren's contracture is common among older people in Sweden. Previous studies comparing the treatment with an injection of collagenase with percutaneous needle fasciotomy found no differences.
Methods:
We retrospectively compared the degree of improvement in the deficit in extension of the joints in 2 groups of patients who had been treated with collagenase (71 fingers) or needle fasciotomy (109 fingers) before and 1 year after treatment. We compared the improvement of the extension deficit among the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal joints before and after the intervention; additionally, the level of improvement was classified into 3 levels (mild = 0° to 29°; moderate = 30° to 60°; considerable = 61° and more).
Results:
The degree of improvement of extension in the MCP joints was 11° greater in the collagenase group (P = 0.001). The number of patients who had an improvement of >60° (considerable) in extension was greater in the collagenase group (P = 0.02).
Conclusion:
Collagenase was more effective than needle fasciotomy in treating extension deficits of the MCP joints in Dupuytren's contracture in this retrospective analysis. Further prospective studies are required to confirm the finding.
