Needle aponeurotomy for dupuytren’s contracture.

Abstract

Needle Aponeurotomy is a negligibly obtrusive method where the cords are debilitated through the manipulation & insertion of a small needle. To determine the frequency of recurrence of flexion contracture after correction by percutaneous needle Aponeurotomy. Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Setting: Department of Orthopedics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Period: March 2017 to February 2018. Materials and Methods: 65 patients were collected for this study with dupuytren’s contracture from stage I-III belonging to either sex of age 18-50 years presented in outpatient department. Results: Total 65 patients were included in the study. Mean flexion contracture was 35.84⁰ with the standard deviation of 13.07⁰. Most of the patients 44(67.7%) had flexion contracture of >30⁰ while 21(32.3%) patients had flexion contracture of ≤30⁰. Majority of the patients had stage 1 of Dupuytren’s contracture, i.e. 26(40%), 25(38.5%) patients were of stage 2 contracture. Least number of patients i.e. 14 (21.5%) had stage 3 Dupuytren’s contracture. Recurrence of contracture was observed in 46(70.8%) of patients, while 19(29.2%) patients had no recurrence of contracture. Conclusion: The frequency of recurrence of flexion contracture found significant after correction with percutaneous needle aponeurotomy, so should be carried in selective patients with counseling’s that it will recur. But acute correction can be made at metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joint with needle aponeurectomy.