- Blog
Dupuytren’s Contracture Surgery
Posted on 07-15-2026 in Hand by Dr. Steven Kronlage
Many times, patients are told that they do not require surgery. A painless bump or a ‘cord’ does not need intervention if it does not cause a contracture.
Indications for intervention are a contracture of the metacarpophalangeal joint (knuckle) of 40° or any contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint (the first joint of the finger). Surgery or enzyme injection can treat the contracture. Nothing will ‘cure’ a patient of Dupuytren’s. The decision for which type of treatment will be made depending on the level of the contracture and the severity of the contracture.
Aponeurotomy is a procedure done in the office. Under local anesthesia, a small needle is used to break up the cords. This allows the finger to straighten. This is used in minor cases and cases primarily with an MP contracture. A splint is worn for three weeks at night. When done in the right clinical setting, the results are very good. Not all contractures are amenable to aponeurotomy. Also, it will not remove large knots and cords as surgery would.
Visit Dupuytren’s Contracture for additional information, including symptoms and diagnosis details.
Check out some of our related posts:
Knee Arthritis or Chronic Low Back Pain? How Peripheral Nerve Stimulation May Fit Into Your Treatment Plan
For many patients living with chronic low back pain (LBP) and advanced knee arthritis, there comes a point when the treatments that once provided relief no longer seem to work as well. Medications may offer only temporary comfort, injections may become less effective over time, and everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even getting out of a chair can become increasingly difficult. At that point, many patients ask the same question: "Am I ready for surgery, or are there other options I should consider first?" The answer is rarely as simple as "yes" or "no."
Arthritis Awareness Month: Resources for Relief & Education
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase public understanding of arthritis and its impact on millions of lives. Established by the Arthritis Foundation, this national observance highlights the importance of early diagnosis, effective treatment, and ongoing research to improve the quality of life for those with arthritis.
Safe Toys & Gifts Month
December is National Safe Toys & Gifts Month, and as we go about our holiday shopping, it's important to remember the impact those presents can have on the well-being of the children in our lives. A recently released report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicated that nearly 210,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for a toy-related injury in 2022. The annual CPSC report also provided the following illuminating statistics: