Medical Questions » Hands Questions » Question No. 471
| Question: | I am developing hard lumps on the palm of my right hand, and I' m finding it hard to straighten my fingers, is this serious? |
| Answer: | You are probably developing Dupuytren' s contractures. This is a disease of the protective membrane that covers the palm of the hand just underneath the skin. The membrane loses its elasticity and becomes fibrosed, contracted and hard.
The probable cause is an injury to the blood supply to the palm of the hand, which may occur with old age, diseases such as diabetes and hardening of the arteries, and by injury to the hand—particularly from vibrating machines (eg. jack hammers). There is an hereditary tendency in this disease, and also an increase amongst epileptics—possibly because of muscle spasms causing injury to the hand in uncontrolled epilepsy. It is much more common in men than women.
In minor cases, no treatment is necessary, but if the contractures are causing discomfort or disability, surgical treatment is available to cut away the fibrosed tissue and allow the tendons that control the fingers to move them freely again. Unfortunately, the remaining areas of fibrous tissue in the hand may contract at a later time, making repeat operations necessary.
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