Hello everyone just noting my experiences here in the NW of England.
Now 3 weeks folowing surgery to little finger and palm of right hand. I was in half cast plaster for 5 days then light dressing for 7 further days proir to stiches out. I attend therapy tomorrow when I expect to be free of any dressing then. At night I wear a splint.
Original contracture was more than 90 degrees and had been in excess of 60 for some years. I am pleased with progress so far ,just hope that the tingling and lack of touch feeling continues to improve. In terms of the operation I would describe after effects as more discomfort rather than painful and have not had to take any of the prescribed painkillers.
My treatment has been under our National Health Service at the Wrightington Hospital dedicated upper limb unit afacility with a world wide reputation in limb surgery.This just happens to be within my local healyh trust.
For the benefit of you all this service is free at the point of need,incidentally I had a wait of 16 weeks for surgery folowing referal by my GP.

Regrsd to you all.

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My treatment has been under our National Health Service at the Wrightington Hospital dedicated upper limb unit a facility with a world wide reputation in limb surgery. This just happens to be within my local health trust.
For the benefit of you all this service is free at the point of need, incidentally I had a wait of 16 weeks for surgery folowing referal by my GP.

Regrsd to you all.

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Some data on recurrence have been published in the past (see e.g. McGrouther and http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr...techniques.html). But there are several issues with the interpretation and with comparing data:

a) the definition of recurrence is not precise. Some would state recurrence if nodules or cords appear again on the operated finger, others if the finger starts contracting again, others will state recurrence when the finger needs to be treated again (i.e. they would tolerate a mild contracture). Obviously the observed recurrence rate would differ, depending on the definition.

b) additionally the observed recurrence rate depends strongly on the elapsed time after surgery. It makes a lot of difference if you look at it after 2, 5 or 10 years. Someone once stated that the recurrene rate for any treatment is 100 percent if you wait long enough. A better figure of merit might therfore not be the percentage but be the average time until recurrence.

c) most publications ignore extension to other areas because this may or may not be triggered by the surgery. But some patients report that theit Dupuytren's started to grow agressively after surgery, it might make sense to include later treatment requirements of other fingers when assessing a therapy.

With the above limitations I would agree that a recurrene rate of 20 % after 5 years is a little low for fasciectomy. It might be more in the 40 % range, except for dermo fasciectomy which seems to be doing a better job with respect to recurrence but has other drawbacks.

Wolfgang

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... In all my research I could locate no statistics regarding recurrence of contractures for patients who underwent a fasciectomy. I would bet that your doctor's statement about 20% recurrence is based on his beliefs which have no basis in actual fact.

If I was convinced that I needed a fasciectomy I would look for a progressive surgeon that would be using an arterial clamp and not a full arm tourniquet during the operation. This alone would greatly decrease the risks involved, though not the recovery time.

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jwag4646,
Any updates from you? I'm guessing that by now that your flexibility should be improving and you are seeing progress.

It was about the six-week time when my surgery really started getting better. It was then that I could really start working on the flexibility. There will be continued improvement during the next year.