Causes and Diagnoses

Dupuytren’s Contracture Causes and Diagnoses

Causes

While there is no known cause, there is likely a genetic or hereditary link.

The condition may be linked with:

• Cigarette smoking
• Alcohol use disorder
• Diabetes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Medications to treat seizures

Detecting and treating Dupuytren’s contracture early may may improve long-term outcomes.

Risk Factors

You may have a higher risk of getting Dupuytren’s contracture if you are an older adult, a male or have diabetes. Other risk factors include:

• Having a certain ethnicity. It is most common in people whose families come from Scandinavian countries or Northern Europe.
• Having a family history of the condition. There is likely a genetic link with the condition.
• Taking seizure medication. Some medication used to treat epileptic seizure can increase your risk.
• Drinking alcohol and smoking. These can negatively affect your health and well-being.

Getting a Diagnosis

Your care team can examine your hand, which may involve:

• Testing the flexibility and feeling in your thumb and fingers
• Testing your grip and pinch strength
• Examining the lumps or bands on your palm
• Measuring your range of motion and how much your fingers curl or contract

These measurements will help your care team see if the disease gets any worse. They can also be used to see if you are responding well to treatment(s).