I am 52 y.o. and had DC surgery on my right ring finger about 11 years ago. There was a large palmar nodule with a band that went up into my finger. Contracture was about 30 degrees. The surgeon made a series of straight line horizontal cuts and performed a limited fasciectomy and nodule excision. There was a total of 42 stitches. The results were very good. I can open my fingers to a totally extended position, and there has not been a reoccurence in that hand. The only permanent affect is a slight loss of feeling in my ring finger, as well as a slight loss of strength. I am a very athletic guy that loves to do things with my hands such as lift weights, do yard work, etc. My past DC and surgery has not impeded these activities at all.
However, I am now very concerned about a subsequent development of nodules and bands in my left hand. I have not been to a surgeon yet, but I know the drill. I have palmar nodules on the fascia sheathes of the little, ring, and middle fingers, as well as a small calcified lump on the first joint of my index finger. I also appear to have bands which extend to the bottom of my palm as well as into 3 of my fingers. The contracture is only about 10 degrees for my little and ring fingers. My hands are completely usable at this point, although if I exert much pressure with this hand, there is some discomfort if pressing against the nodules. I expect to probably have surgery by the end of the year, as the whole development of the the nodules and bands have taken only about 1.5 years. It's kind of scary!
I have done a lot of research on the Internet, and have also gleaned a lot of information from this website. However, I haven't seen anybody describe the surgical approach for a more severe case like mine. I'm fear that I may require a total dermafaciectomy, and that the skin of my entire palm would need to be removed and replaced with a skin graft from another part of my body. I've seen the photos, and its not a pretty sight! I can't imagine having a tourniquet on my arm for the several hours that would be required for such a surgery. It seems that I would be more prone to nerve or muscle injury due to such a long surgery. I would sure appreciate any thoughts or experience that anyone has regarding such a situation.

Don

Don & Jim:

Why in the world aren't you guys thinking about N.A.?

Dr. Denkler (in Northern California) used N.A. to fix my PIP joint last August, which was bent to about 38 degrees (I guessing here).

I feel strongly that N.A. is a much better procedure - at least for the first step.

You can always resort to the more invasive open surgery if you need to in the future.

All the best.

Mark

Jim:

Oops, sorry about that.

But, I'm glad you agree that N.A. should be the starting point.

It was thanks to guys like Randy H., on the prededessor to this Website, that first introduced me to N.A.

Take care.

Mark

Quote:

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I am 52 y.o. and had DC surgery on my right ring finger about 11 years ago. There was a large palmar nodule with a band that went up into my finger. Contracture was about 30 degrees. The surgeon made a series of straight line horizontal cuts and performed a limited fasciectomy and nodule excision. There was a total of 42 stitches. The results were very good. I can open my fingers to a totally extended position, and there has not been a reoccurence in that hand. The only permanent affect is a slight loss of feeling in my ring finger, as well as a slight loss of strength. I am a very athletic guy that loves to do things with my hands such as lift weights, do yard work, etc. My past DC and surgery has not impeded these activities at all.
However, I am now very concerned about a subsequent development of nodules and bands in my left hand. I have not been to a surgeon yet, but I know the drill. I have palmar nodules on the fascia sheathes of the little, ring, and middle fingers, as well as a small calcified lump on the first joint of my index finger. I also appear to have bands which extend to the bottom of my palm as well as into 3 of my fingers. The contracture is only about 10 degrees for my little and ring fingers. My hands are completely usable at this point, although if I exert much pressure with this hand, there is some discomfort if pressing against the nodules. I expect to probably have surgery by the end of the year, as the whole development of the the nodules and bands have taken only about 1.5 years. It's kind of scary!
I have done a lot of research on the Internet, and have also gleaned a lot of information from this website. However, I haven't seen anybody describe the surgical approach for a more severe case like mine. I'm fear that I may require a total dermafaciectomy, and that the skin of my entire palm would need to be removed and replaced with a skin graft from another part of my body. I've seen the photos, and its not a pretty sight! I can't imagine having a tourniquet on my arm for the several hours that would be required for such a surgery. It seems that I would be more prone to nerve or muscle injury due to such a long surgery. I would sure appreciate any thoughts or experience that anyone has regarding such a situation.

Don

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I am now 55 yrs old and have in the passed 2 years had to have my little finger on each hand removed. I orignally started with this condition in 1980 and within 5 years had 4 surgical operations to my hands. The condition has severly effected both hands and most of my fingers. i have been classed as having a severe form of the condition.
I had been offered the skin graft proceedures, which i declined. Having had the 2 fingers remved I do not miss them generally and get on well in day to day life. I have my index finger on my right hand which is still bent to about 60 deg and cannot be staigtened.
i wish you well with your pending surgery
Andrew

macphgw: why not have NA on your index finger? Sounds like a perfect candidate.

Wolfgang