Common hand & wrist concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, lifting, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries: acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn't resolve
Dupuytren's Contracture
Thickened palm tissue that bends the fingers
Dupuytren's contracture is a thickening of the tissue beneath the skin of the palm, gradually pulling one or more fingers into a bent position. Same-day or next-day evaluations across eight LA-area offices.
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Board-certified surgeons and podiatrists across eight Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
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What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Dupuytren's contracture is one of many hand & wrist conditions our specialists evaluate every day.
- Mild Dupuytren's is monitored. When a finger can no longer straighten, the cord is released with a needle procedure, an enzyme injection, or surgery.
- When a procedure is the right call, we explain every option, recovery timeline, and return-to-activity milestone.
- On-site imaging at most offices and same-day appointments across eight Los Angeles-area locations.
What is Dupuytren's contracture?
Dupuytren's contracture is a thickening of the tissue beneath the skin of the palm, gradually pulling one or more fingers into a bent position. It usually develops slowly over years and is often painless, so the first sign is typically a lump in the palm or a finger that will not fully straighten.
Dupuytren's contracture often progresses slowly, and mild disease is simply monitored. Splints and therapy do not stop it. Treatment is recommended when a finger can no longer straighten enough for daily tasks, or when you cannot lay your hand flat on a table. Options are needle aponeurotomy, collagenase injection, and surgery to remove the diseased tissue. The contracture can return after any of these.
Below, we walk through the anatomy involved, the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we diagnose Dupuytren's contracture, and the full range of treatment options, from the simplest to the most involved.
Watch: Dupuytren's Disease
This disease affects the palm of your hand and fingers. It makes the tissue layer under your skin thick and tight. We call that layer the "fascia." Over time, thick fascia forms lumps or cords. This causes one or more of your fingers to bend toward your palm. And, you can't straighten them. This is called "Dupuytren's contracture."
Inside the hand & wrist.
The hand and wrist are an intricate stack of small bones, tendons, and nerves that let you grip, pinch, and feel. The median, ulnar, and radial nerves carry sensation and movement from the forearm into the fingers. Most hand and wrist problems are either a tendon issue (trigger finger, De Quervain's), a nerve compression (carpal or cubital tunnel), or arthritis at one of the small joints.
Symptoms and causes of Dupuytren's contracture
Common symptoms
- Firm lumps or cords in the palm
- A finger that gradually bends toward the palm
- Inability to fully straighten the affected finger
- Trouble placing the hand flat on a surface
Common causes
- Genetic predisposition (more common in people of northern European descent)
- Age (typically over 50)
- More common in men than women
- Diabetes or excessive alcohol use
How we diagnose Dupuytren's contracture
You want answers, fast, and we're built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here's what your initial visit for Dupuytren's contracture typically looks like:
- Detailed history: when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you've already tried
- Focused exam of the hand: feeling for nodules and cords, measuring how far each finger straightens, and the tabletop test (laying your hand flat)
- Imaging only if needed: Dupuytren's contracture is diagnosed by exam, so X-rays are ordered only when another problem is suspected
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation at the LAOSS office nearest you.
How we treat Dupuytren's contracture at LAOSS
Once we've confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits, and escalate only when it doesn't.
Conservative care
Step 1Monitoring and office procedures
Options that avoid open surgery. Which one fits depends on the cords in your hand.
- Observation with periodic measurement of the contracture
- Needle aponeurotomy to release the cord
- Collagenase injection to dissolve the cord
- Hand therapy and night splinting after a release
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Minimally invasive and reconstructive procedures performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
- Fasciectomy to remove the diseased tissue
- Wide-awake (WALANT) surgery in many cases
- Hand therapy after surgery to keep the finger straight
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Hand & wrist care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our hand & wrist specialists move stepwise: start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a hand & wrist specialist is the next step.
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a hand & wrist specialist.
- A lump or cord in the palm, or a finger you cannot fully straighten
- Swelling, instability, or noticeable change in function
- Symptoms that limit gripping, lifting, sleep, or work
- Previous treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
- Imaging or exam findings that suggest an underlying issue
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history: onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, numbness, progressive weakness, or any sign of infection (fever, increasing redness or swelling).
Your hand & wrist recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
- Days 0 to 14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the hand & wrist, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don't guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
- Weeks 2 to 8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the hand & wrist.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
- Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there, and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient. Informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Hand and wrist considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the hand & wrist. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Return of the contracture over time, which may need repeat treatment
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Meet our hand & wrist doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our hand & wrist specialists are board-certified and treat these problems every day. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to joint replacement and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. We have cared for Los Angeles patients since 2007, with one goal for each: less pain, better movement, and a return to the activities you love.
Dupuytren's contracture care starts here
Don't let Dupuytren's contracture be something you just power through. With same- or next-day appointments at multiple Los Angeles locations, you'll never wait weeks or months for answers. The same team handles your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Whether you need monitoring, a needle release, an enzyme injection, or surgery, we plan it with you and coordinate each step.
Call or schedule online today to see a hand & wrist specialist in Los Angeles.
Common Dupuytren's contracture questions
- We start with a focused orthopedic exam and detailed history. Dupuytren's contracture is diagnosed by examining the hand, so imaging is usually not needed. Most patients leave the first visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan.
Don't wait on pain.
Book a visit with a hand & wrist specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles-area offices.
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