I posted on youtube a video of my needle aponeurotomy, with before and after pictures, as being performed on friday, August 24, by Dr. David Kline, assisted by Cindy, in Ontario, Oregon. This procedure was effective, easy, relatively painless and I have a teetime to play golf on Monday. No cutting, no open wound, no physical therapy and a hand returned to me after being ninety degrees bent for years. Go to www.youtube.com and simply search under heading, dupuytren's. The video is entitled, "Miracle 20-minute medical procedure reverses hand disorder." BTW, just received my HMO"S, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, denial of my request for an out-of-plan referral, citing that, "No one in our hand group would recommend this procedure. As well no one is doing this procedure." So, the appeal fight begins. Anyone who has had it done and would write as to its success, please send me an email. I suspect Kaiser needs a bit of a comeuppance on this. :)

For a successful appeal, see my posting here in the section "HMO's and payment"

Steve Abrams

It's just astounding to me that after all this time, the official position of hand surgeons is still "not recommended". I wonder if what would happen if you made an appointment with one of your insurance group surgeons and showed him your hand. Would he agree to "recommend" the procedure then? Maybe not - but if he contracted Dupuytren's himself, he'd be calling you to find out where you had it done.

That's really good to see. I have just broken my left collarbone and I am struggling to cope using only my right hand (Dupuytren effected without contracture yet) at the moment. I have very limited use of my left hand due to residual paralysis from a previous injury and the thought of possible surgery on my right hand for this disease, if required, is rather worrying because I wouldn't be able to do anything for myself. It is therefore very pleasing see in action this simple option that I would hopefully be suited for.

If you wanted to post the name of the person with Kaiser that oversees these decisions, we would be more than happy to send them a letter, along with before and after pictures of my husband's hand. Hopefully, if enough people can prove that this procedure does happen and does work, then they might stop being so arogant and ignorant. It is so sad the amount of pain and rehabilitation they are forcing people to go through unnecessarily. Sandie