Presentation Description
Institution: Raise Your Hands - WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Australia
Purpose
Recurrent contractures after fasciectomy and z-plasty for Dupuytren’s Fibrosis occur in 40% of cases with an estimated serious adverse event (SAE) of 1 to 3%. It has been documented that Dupuytren's fibrosis occurs extremely rarely under a full-thickness skin graft performed after dermofasciectomy. The current study aims to describe the surgical technique and post-operative management for primary dermofasciectomy with a full-thickness skin graft. It also aims to show rates of recurrent contractures in patients following this procedure.
Methodology
This retrospective study was performed from 2016-2023. All patients had a dermofascietomy with full-thickness grafts from the distal segment to the level of the mid-palmar crease. Total flexion deformities (TFD) were recorded pre- and post-surgery and were classified using Tubiana’s staging (REF). Patients' follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5.5 years. Recurrence was defined as contracture of >20 ̊from 6-week measurements.
Results
118 patients and 142 fingers were included in the study. The average follow-up time was 18.7 months. A recurrent contracture rate of 21.8% was recorded. Of these, 61.3% (n=19) had improved overall TFD measures, but had a recurrence of contracture more than 20 degrees when compared to 6-week follow-up; 16.1% (n=5) had no improvement in TFD; and 22.6% (n=7) had worse TFD at the end of their follow-up compared to pre-treatment measures. The average time to recurrent contracture was 12.4 months. No recurrence of Dupuytren’s fibrosis was identified in the patients who experienced recurrent contractures.
Conclusions
The current study provides an interesting insight into the evolution of Dupuytren’s Disease. While we have demonstrated that dermofasciectomy with FTG abolishes recurrent Dupuytren's fibrosis, there remain problems with recurrent contractures and loss of motion. This raises the interesting question: ‘In the absence of disease, what is the cause for recurrent contractures?’
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Jeff Ecker - , Mrs Karolina Pavleski - , Mr Mitchell Garland -
