I am a 63 year old male with a somewhat agressive form of Dupuytren's. My left hand is the most affected, primarly the pinky with thumb and ring finger involvement. I underwent surgery in December 98 which was not particularly effective. The contracture is returning (now 15-20 degrees) and I am experiencing stiffness and pain in the ajoining fingers. I am told I will need further surgery in the same hand soon (6 months?) So far the right hand has many nodules, skin dimpling, etc, but no significant contracture.
I would appreciate receiving any information on the following:
1. Is there still a chance to participate in the Phase II trials of injectable Collangenase? If not,I understand that additional clinical trials will be carried out in multicenter tests at various sites in the USA and countries around the world.
2. Since Collangenase has been granted "Orphan Drug Status" by the FDA are US doctors now allowed to administer it? If anyone has tried this or knows of doctors who use it, please advise.
3. Has anyone undergone Aponevrotomy (needle fasciotomy) from US doctors?
Thanks for any help or ideas.

I am a 56 year old male with about a 5 or 6 year history of DC. It began in left hand on index finger. No other fingers on right hand are affected. No nodules. About 3 years ago it began to appear on my right hand; specifically on pinkie finger and finger between pinkie and middle finger. There are nodules forming at base of middle finger also. I have an appointment to consult with an ortho surgeon at UC Davis in a couple of weeks. I'm assuming he will be like the rest of the doctors I've talked with in that "surgery is the only solution."

I'm looking for something much less intrusive. Any advice out there?

I have recently undergone Needle Aponevrotomy (in Bordeaux, France) in my right hand for stage 3/stage 4 Dupuytrens Contracture. I had already had conventional surgery about ten years ago. The new treatment (two sessions of 20 minutes) has been reasonably successful and I can use the pinkie again for piano playing etc. I would not go back to conventional surgery! If Needle Ap. is used before conventional surgery (which leaves scar tissue) then it can result in a perfectly straight finger.

Patrick,
I would rather have Dupuytren's than follow that treatment.

Robert,
I think we must keep in mind for all our recomendations, that DC does not react the same for all people. While you say that stretching and exercise helps you, I am convinced that it enhanced the growth of DC for me. I did not want to go through surgery so I tried different methods to avoid it. My finger then went from 0 degrees (just dermal pits) to 90 degrees in a year. I think that most, if not all, studies say that exercising and straightening techniques are generally not productive in slowing the progress of DC. The growth of DC is irregular so what might seem to be temporary relief could very possibly be just a lull in its progression.

I then had surgery (no option) and finger is now totally normal (after 5 months). You can hardly tell that I had surgery. I expect recurrence sometime in the future, because it can never be ruled out. It is nice to have normal hand functions once again.