I followed Frances'lead (thank you Frances) to find DD recurrence rates. I found this in the results of a study by Bulstrode, Jemec, and Bisson (http://www.raft.ac.uk/research/dupuytrens.html):

"Currently the only widespread treatment is surgery, however this has a high recurrence rate, as much as 60% in some studies."

Does anyone else have recurrence rates for surgery?

To LeMoine,

I got a cynical little chuckle from your hand-doctor's response that none of his patients ever returned!

Recently I developed beginning Dupuytren's symptoms and have been perusing this site and researching generally on the web.

The OVERWHELMING concensus everywhere is VERY CLEAR that D.C. VERY COMMONLY recurs.

I MUST conclude that the particular doctor who led you to believe it doesn't IS NOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE about D.C.

And I ask, did he do such a poor job on his surgeries that no one returned for seconds???

There's lots of info. out there. And I gather that among traditional surgeons, some know what they are doing and get decent results and others tend to botch things up.

N.A. is a newer technique and much less invasive than traditional surgery, but not yet accepted/understood by most traditional surgeons.

Keep asking questions, doing research. An excellent place to start is Dr. Charles Eaton's website: www.handcenter.org. Look for the info. on Dupuytrens on his site for good info. He's very experienced. Also look further down this topic for a list of others that do NA. Only a few in this country so far.

Please don't commit to surgery until you've really researched your options. And if I were you I would DEFINITELY avoid the guy who wants you not to know that it often does recur.

Susan

Well i had surgery 3times twice on my right hand and now i've had NA on my thumd and was tottally blown away. I know it's not a cure but damn it beats 2month off wound care and still the thought of it comming back and the nerve damage.
I'd go through this every yr if i have to it took about 20mins and was at work the next day yes with sore hand but the out look was great. I had my NA by DR PESS he had not done a thumb and even said he had not seen it do in France but what did i have to loose so i said give it a try.
I'm very pleased with the out come and will go back in a heart beat to have it done again till a cure is found ZZZz plasti sucks.

Having consulted with various board-certified hand surgeons in Omaha, Ne., New York City, and Mayo Clinic, I was encouraged to have the traditional, radical fascietomy on my right hand and a followup surgery 6-9 wks. later on my left hand. I was told there would be weeks of intense physical therapy and no guarantees of success.

Instead I chose N.A. with Dr Eaton in Jupiter, Florida on May 17, 2004. I have regained full usage of my right hand and actually am looking forward to having my left hand done in January with Dr. Eaton. I am so fortunate that I did NOT take the advice of these otherwise well-respected surgeons. Otherwise, I would still be trying to recuperate. What a satisfying result! My fingers are still straight to this very day.