Portsmouth, New Hampshire – October 25, 2011 – On Tuesday, October 25, Dr. Matt Quitkin will be giving a dinner presentation on the latest advancements in the treatment of hand conditions to an audience of Seacoast Area physicians and other medical professionals at the 100 Club in downtown Portsmouth. Dr. Quitkin will discuss the various treatment options for Dupuytren’s disease of the hand. Dupuytren’s disease is an abnormal thickening of the tissue just beneath the skin known as fascia. This thickening occurs in the palm and can extend into the fingers. Firm cords and lumps may develop that can cause the fingers to bend into the palm in which case it is described as Dupuytren’s contracture.
There are several different treatment options for Dupuytren’s disease. For mild cases, only observation is usually required. For moderate to severe cases, either open surgery or needle aponeurotomy may be used to release the contracture. More recently, the FDA has approved a new treatment for moderate Dupuytren’s contracture called Xiaflex. Xiaflex is a Collagenase that can be injected into the Dupuytren’s affected cords and has been shown to release the contracture in most cases. This innovative new treatment option offers an alternative to surgery resulting in a shorter recovery time for most patients. The treatment can take place in the office setting and requires only minimal after care. As with all treatments, there are possible side affects and this may not be the best option for some patients.
If you suspect that you might have Dupuytren’s disease or if you have any questions about Xiaflex or any other treatment options, call the Hand Center at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics at 603-775-7575 or visit www.accesssportsmed.com.