Back to 2026 Abstracts
Recurrence Rates in Dupuytren's Contracture: A Meta-Analysis Comparing Percutaneous and Open Surgical Management
Alexander Chang, MSc
1, Funiba Ngwa, BS
1, Gabrielle Knauer, BS
2, Alex Stratton, BS
1, Natalia Mejia, MD
3, Sameer Patel, MD
2; Adam Walchak, MD
2(1)LKSOM Temple University Hospital / Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, (2)Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, (3)Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,Temple University Hospital/Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Introduction:Dupuytren's contracture is a chronic condition of the hand, characterized by thickening and shortening of the
palmar fascia, progressively leading to involuntary finger flexion. Treatment options range from
conservative measures such as
physical therapy and steroid injections to operative approaches, which can be percutaneous or open. Percutaneous procedures include needle aponeurotomy and needle fasciectomy, while surgical options include
fasciotomy, fasciectomy, and open aponeurotomy. This
systematic review and
meta-analysis evaluates and compares the recurrence rates of Dupuytren's contracture following percutaneous versus surgical management.
Methods:
A meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted using PubMed (NLM), Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Central (Wiley), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate), ScienceDirect (Elsevier), and CINAHL (Ebscohost). Search terms included "Dupuytren's contracture," "percutaneous vs surgical treatment of Dupuytren's contracture," "Dupuytren's contracture recurrence rate," "recurrence after Dupuytren's treatment," and "non-surgical treatment of Dupuytren's." Two independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility. Data were synthesized to compare recurrence rates between percutaneous and surgical treatments.
Results:
The search identified 2,326 records; after screening, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these (n=17), eleven studies evaluated percutaneous treatment, comprising 1,318 patients with 424 recurrences (32.2% recurrence rate). Seven studies evaluated surgical management, comprising 1,932 patients with 379 recurrences (19.6% recurrence rate).
| Percutaneous Treatment | Surgical Management |
| Included Papers | 11 | 7 |
| Number of Patients | 1318 | 1932 |
| Patients with Recurrence | 424 | 379 |
| Recurrence Rate | 32.2% | 19.6% |
Conclusion:
This review indicates that while percutaneous procedures offer a minimally invasive option with lower initial complication rates, their higher recurrence rate may limit their utility as a long-term treatment for Dupuytren's contracture. Surgical interventions, although associated with greater initial morbidity, provide more durable results. Clinicians should balance the risk of recurrence against surgical risks when selecting the optimal treatment approach. Further research is needed to refine treatment protocols and identify patient factors that influence recurrence.
Back to 2026 Abstracts
