Finger shortening for Dupuytren’s disease-induced severe PIP joint flexion contracture of the little finger: A report of two cases

Abstract

When severe proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint flexion contracture is induced in the little finger by Dupuytren’s disease, it interferes with activities of daily living. To extend the little finger, open fasciectomy is selected as a general treatment method. However, postoperative complications have been frequently reported. To solve these problems, finger shortening was undertaken. In this study, we treated two cases of Dupuytren’s disease manifesting severe PIP joint flexion contracture of the little finger with finger shortening by proximodistal interphalangeal (PDIP) fusion in which the middle phalanx is resected and the residual distal and proximal phalanges are fused. For flexion contracture of the MP joint, a percutaneous aponeurotomy using an 18G needle was performed to obtain the extended position of the MP joint. Favorable outcomes with high patient satisfaction, including esthetic aspects of retaining the finger with the nail without complication, were achieved. We report this challenging treatment and its discussion.