The purpose of this discussion is to gather information on radiotherapy for Dupuytren's Disease in France and to help this treatment option develop and eventually be reimbursed by the French Social Security health insurance.

Background

After the successful NA on my right-hand pinky I had asked the rheumatologist/NA expert if it would make sense to do something, e.g. RT, about my other pinky which has a very small nodule in the finger, not the palm, no cords yet. The reaction to my question about RT was a look as if I was talking complete nonsense, and the repeated affirmation that there was no such thing as RT for DD, and then, after I insisted, that there was no scientific proof of RT effectiveness for DD.

So I did my own research thanks to this site and forwarded a summary to him which got him sufficiently curious about RT for wanting to discuss the topic with his hand rheumatologist colleagues at the hospital. One of the reasons, probably the main reason, why in France radiotherapy is apparently not performed for DD is that it is not a recognized act covered by the national health insurance. I don't see a single doctor listed at http://www.dupuytren-online.info/radiotherapy_clinics.html. So I'll probably consult one of the experts in Germany, and try to get the French and the Germans to talk to each other.

I welcome any input from patients or doctors who have already looked into this, or have contacts or suggestions which can help further this cause. I'll also post in the less active French forum later.

Thanks for the shortlist of names, Wolfgang. I had followed Dr. Seegenschmiedt's work discussed and linked here, but did not have all of the other names. As I said, I will post in the French forum later (in French), and I'll be happy to contribute to making our French forum community more active.

Hi Richard, thanks for your most interesting post.

I have unfortunately fallen behind in my plans to promote the knowledge and practice of RT for DD in France. As you may have seen from my recent post I myself had to travel to Germany six weeks ago to have my right hand treated with radiotherapy, and to pay for it out of my pocket because French health insurance doesn't recognize or cover the treatment option. This has probably been the main reason why radiologists here haven't been practicing it. My own specialist here in Paris, who had performed successful PNF/NA a year ago, expressed some interest in sharing with this radiology colleagues at the hospital, but didn't respond when I offered to follow my RT treatment. But I still plan to push this issue as soon as I find time, including helping with translating the corresponding pages of this site into French. Let's message each other to see how we may be able to cooperate.