The presentation and treatment of Dupuytren's disease in Dutch general practitioner care.

Background: When research and management of Dupuytren's disease (DD) shift from symptom relief to preventing contractures, general practitioner (GP) care may become more central to treatment. However, the presentation and course of DD in GP care are underexplored and this has been recognized as a knowledge gap that hinders effective treatment decisions. This study is the first to map the trajectory of DD patients in GP care.

The incidence and prevalence of Dupuytren's disease in primary care: results from a text mining approach on registration data.

Background: The focus of research and management of Dupuytren's disease (DD) is shifting from relieving symptoms in the later stages of disease towards the prevention of contractures. Treatment services might likewise shift towards primary care. Studying characteristics of DD patients who seek medical care for the first time, may identify a symptomatic target group for early DD treatments.

Immobilization, rehabilitation and complications classification after thumb trapeziometacarpal total joint arthroplasty. A scoping review.

The best way of immobilization as well as effectiveness of rehabilitation for trapeziometacarpal total joint arthroplasty is unknown. We aimed to identify and describe the available evidence, practice variation and knowledge gaps. The literature was searched without restrictions.

Avoiding pitfalls in conducting hand surgery research: the feasibility analysis.

This paper is intended to support hand surgeons who, at the beginning of their research career, are planning a clinical study. Besides establishing the research methodology of the study, the organizational planning of the work itself is essential. A feasibility analysis carried out before or during the writing of the study protocol helps to estimate the required resources and duration of a project.

Mortality in patients with Dupuytren's disease in the first 5 years after diagnosis: a population-based survival analysis.

Previous studies suggest that Dupuytren's disease is associated with increased mortality, but most studies failed to account for important confounders. In this population-based cohort study, general practitioners' (GP) data were linked to Statistics Netherlands to register all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Patients with Dupuytren's disease were identified using the corresponding diagnosis code and assessing free-text fields from GP consultations.

Treatment Durability of Limited Fasciectomy versus Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy for Dupuytren Disease.

Background: Patients with Dupuytren disease (DD) are mostly surgically treated by percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) or limited fasciectomy (LF), but data on time intervals to retreatment are lacking. The authors aimed to estimate the risk of retreatment within certain time periods after treatment with PNF and LF.

Methods: The authors used data of participants of a cohort study on the course of DD who were treated only with PNF or LF.

Assessing Facial Palsy: Does Feedback Improve Assessment Using the eFACE and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System?

Objective(s): To explore learning effects when applying the clinician-graded electronic facial function scale (eFACE) and the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (Sunnybrook).

Methods: Surgeons, facial rehabilitation therapists, and medical students were randomly allocated to the eFACE (n = 7) or Sunnybrook (n = 6) and graded 60 videos (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary open-source standard set); 10 persons with normal facial function and 50 patients with a wide variation of facial palsy severity. Participants received an introduction and individual feedback after each set of 10 videos.

Repeated percutaneous needle fasciotomy for recurrent Dupuytren's disease.

Percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) is an attractive option for repeated application for recurrence. We found that extension deficit correction was similar after a first, second and third PNF, though the interval between treatments was longer after a first versus second PNF.

Patient-Perceived Hand Function Can Predict Treatment for Dupuytren Disease.

Background: Web-based patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) could help surgeons remotely assess the need for examination and subsequent treatment of patients with Dupuytren disease (DD). The authors studied whether the Unité Rhumatologique des Affections de la Main (URAM) and the Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) could predict DD treatment.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, the authors compared MHQ and URAM scores of treated patients with those of untreated patients.

The association between echogenicity and progression of Dupuytren's disease (DD): Birth of an imaging biomarker?

Background: The shift of focus towards disease-controlling treatments to prevent DD progression at an early stage underlines the need for objective and reliable measurements that can monitor and predict the course of disease. Ultrasound has been studied as a potential tool for this purpose. This study examined to what extent echogenicity of early DD nodules predicts clinical progression.

Ultra-high-definition (22 MHz) ultrasound of the ulnar nerve: additional value and normative data.

We studied 30 healthy volunteers (60 arms), categorized into three age groups with equal numbers to verify if a 22 MHz compared with a 15 MHz ultrasound transducer has additional value for studying the intraneural architecture of the ulnar nerve throughout its course. At six sites, there were no differences in cross-sectional area measurements between the two transducers. With both, the cross-sectional area was significantly larger at the medial epicondyle compared with the other sites and smaller at the mid-forearm and Guyon's canal compared with the mid-upper arm.

Dupuytren Disease: Prevalence, Incidence, and Lifetime Risk of Surgical Intervention. A Population-Based Cohort Analysis.

Background: Health care burden attributable to Dupuytren disease (DD) is largely unknown. The authors determined (1) the prevalence and incidence of DD, (2) the incidence of first surgical intervention, and (3) the lifetime risk of surgical intervention in the United Kingdom National Healthcare Service.

Methods: In this population-based dynamic cohort analysis, data of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink was linked to Hospital Episode Statistics, to characterize the diagnosis and surgical treatment of DD.

Dupuytren's disease is a work-related disorder: results of a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a fibroproliferative disorder of the hands, characterised by the development of fibrous nodules and cords that may cause disabling contractures of the fingers. The role of manual work exposure in the aetiology of DD is controversial. We investigated whether current occupational exposure to manual work is associated with DD, and if there is a dose-response relationship.

Disease Course of Primary Dupuytren Disease: 5-Year Results of a Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Predicting progression of Dupuytren disease becomes relevant in an upcoming era with progression-preventing treatment. This study aimed to determine the course of Dupuytren disease and identify factors associated with progression.

Methods: Two hundred fifty-eight patients with Dupuytren disease participated in this prospective cohort study, obtaining 17,645 observations in 5 years.

Echogenicity of Dupuytren's nodules is correlated to myofibroblast load and nodule hardness.

This study aimed to determine the association between the echogenicity of Dupuytren's disease nodules and myofibroblast load, and between echogenicity and nodule hardness. Thirty-eight nodules were assessed sonographically. The echogenicity of nodules was measured objectively with Image J (grey-value) and subjectively by visual inspection (hypo-, mixed and hyper-echogenicity).

Interpreting Quality-of-Life Questionnaires in Patients with Long-Standing Facial Palsy.

To interpret change in quality-of-life scores in facial palsy patients by calculating the smallest detectable change (SDC) and minimal important change (MIC) for the Facial Disability Index (FDI), Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale, and Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). The SDC, for individuals and groups, was calculated using previously collected test-retest data (2-week interval). The MIC (predictive modeling method) was calculated in a second similar facial palsy population using two measurements (1-1.