Treatment Injuries in Dupuytren Contracture: A Population-Based Study of Filed Compensation Claims

Dupuytren contracture (DC) is a common benign fibroproliferative hand disorder, causing progressive flexion contractures of the finger joints. DC is a chronic condition with no definitive cure, and treatment is primarily surgical, although percutaneous options also exist. We assessed the safety of DC treatments by analyzing national compensation claims.

This retrospective registry study included all compensation claims related to the treatment of DC submitted to the Finnish Patient Insurance Center between 2010 and 2023. The number of filed and compensated claims, the types of treatment injuries claimed, and the proportion of avoidable injuries were analyzed. The national incidence of claimed treatment injuries was calculated using annual procedure volumes. Injury avoidability was assessed retrospectively by expert review.

During the 14-year study period, 54 compensation claims were filed following treatment for DC, corresponding to an incidence of 4.0 claimed injuries per 1,000 operations. The most frequently reported injuries were nerve injuries, tendon injuries, infections, and recurrent contractures. Of the 54 claims, 20 resulted in compensation, most commonly for nerve injuries, tendon injuries, amputations, and infections. Based on the retrospective assessment, 29.6% of the cases were considered avoidable.

The number of claims and compensated treatment injuries was low in relation to the total number of procedures performed.

Therapeutic IV.