I have Duputyren's and Ledderhose and need foot surgery for big toe joint arthritis on both feet.

First, I am concerned about the surgery causing additional progression of the disease, particularly in my feet. Does anyone know if the trauma fromjust any surgery - or surgery in close proximity to the foot or hand can cause further progression fo the disease?

Second, I am considering radiotherapy for my feet and I'm unsure of whether I should pursue this before the toe joint surgery or after.

Any discussion or experience would be helpful. thanks.

Hi rainwalker,

here are my 5 cents:

First, I am concerned about the surgery causing additional progression of the disease, particularly in my feet. Does anyone know if the trauma fromjust any surgery - or surgery in close proximity to the foot or hand can cause further progression fo the disease?
A: any severe trauma can foster Dupuytren's/Ledderhose because the healing process will activate the whole body. I myself had surgery in my left hand which triggered new Dupuytren's nodules not only in the left but also in my right hand.

Second, I am considering radiotherapy for my feet and I'm unsure of whether I should pursue this before the toe joint surgery or after.
A: typically only your nodule plus some perimeter around it will be radiated, therefore there is probably no conflict and the sequence doesn't matter. At least this is the case with x-rays, it might be different with electrons where shielding is more difficult. Maybe you better ask your doctor.

Wolfgang

Any discussion or experience would be helpful. thanks.

Thanks for the responses. I don't know that my foot doctor may know enough about radiotherapy for dupuytren's or ledderhose to make the determination on the sequencing it with non-ledderhose surgery. From your comments, it sounds like it would be best to do the surgery first and then do the radiotherapy ...just in case more nodules grow as a result of the surgery.

I dread more nodules or any progression. It almost makes me want to just try and get by with my feet the way they are -despite the funcitonality impact from arthritis. Maybe the cure will end up being worse than living with the problem.