Just thought I'd check in and give a progress report, as requested. I had my Xiaflex treatment three months ago (back in September; you can read about it earlier in this thread). I have had no problem at all, and can now fully straighten my lefthand ring finger. Without stretching (or without putting on the hand splint for a while), the finger does have a very, very tiny contracture, but nothing significant.

One thing that's worth mentioning: Once the swelling in the finger went down (which actually took a good two weeks or more) a second cord was revealed in the same finger. I think it's been there all along, but the big nodule in the first cord, and the significant contracture it caused, essentially hid the second cord from view. This cord is way off on the very side of the finger, which is quite atypical, and which may prevent it from ever causing a significant contracture (since fingers don't bend sideways!). In any case, the cord is only really tight when the finger is totally extended, so I'm hoping it won't be a problem in the future. It's three months now, and it hasn't seemed to contract at all, so I'm hopeful. Given the atypical location of the cord, I'm not sure what my options would be if it started to cause a problem. The hand surgeon said that even the location of my original cord (which was off to the side of the finger but not directly on the side, as this one is) made NA inadvisable and Xiaflex a little iffy.

Anyway, aside from this complication (which presumably had nothing to do with Xiaflex), everything else is fine. I don't even think about my finger anymore. It seems to operate just as well as it did before the contracture set in.

@GMichael:

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Just thought I'd check in and give a progress report, as requested. I had my Xiaflex treatment three months ago (back in September; you can read about it earlier in this thread). I have had no problem at all, and can now fully straighten my lefthand ring finger. Without stretching (or without putting on the hand splint for a while), the finger does have a very, very tiny contracture, but nothing significant.

One thing that's worth mentioning: Once the swelling in the finger went down (which actually took a good two weeks or more) a second cord was revealed in the same finger. I think it's been there all along, but the big nodule in the first cord, and the significant contracture it caused, essentially hid the second cord from view. This cord is way off on the very side of the finger, which is quite atypical, and which may prevent it from ever causing a significant contracture (since fingers don't bend sideways!). In any case, the cord is only really tight when the finger is totally extended, so I'm hoping it won't be a problem in the future. It's three months now, and it hasn't seemed to contract at all, so I'm hopeful. Given the atypical location of the cord, I'm not sure what my options would be if it started to cause a problem. The hand surgeon said that even the location of my original cord (which was off to the side of the finger but not directly on the side, as this one is) made NA inadvisable and Xiaflex a little iffy.

Anyway, aside from this complication (which presumably had nothing to do with Xiaflex), everything else is fine. I don't even think about my finger anymore. It seems to operate just as well as it did before the contracture set in.

DCinNYC:

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It has been 6 months since my injection - finger has full and normal flexion and there are no side effects. I had help underwriting the insurance co-pay from Healthwell Foundation (http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/). I think Xiaflex is the answer to this insidious condition and recommend it highly.

DCinNYC:

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At the time of the injection, my left hand digit #5 (pinky) had a moderate (25°-30°) contraction which had been reduced from a 60° contraction with physical therapy over a 5 month period prior to the injection.

bailey1,

What has been the advice given to you about surgery? I only ask because I lean toward surgery in situations like yours. My finger was very similar to what you have experienced. I had surgery about 10 1/2 years ago and you couldn't tell that I ever had Dupuytren's in that hand except for a very faint scar. I have zero contracture and full use of my hand and finger.

Edited 04/04/12 00:38