Phone: 253-200-3166
Fax: 253-200-3167
Dupuytren’s Contracture Treatment: Low-Dose Radiotherapy
What Does Dupuytren’s Do?
Dupuytren’s contracture causes the tissue under the skin of the palm to thicken and form nodules or cords. The thickening of tissue is caused by cells called fibroblasts, which form connective tissue. These fibroblasts malfunction and overproduce collagen, resulting in the formation of nodules and tight cords in the hand. These cords can pull the fingers inward, making it hard to straighten them.
How Can Radiotherapy Help Dupuytren’s Contracture?
Radiotherapy treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture uses low doses of radiation to slow down or stop the progression of the contracture by targeting malfunctioning cells and inflammation in the hand.
Radiotherapy reduces the activity of fibroblasts, slowing down the excess production of collagen, which in turn reduces the formation of thickened tissue. Radiotherapy also limits the ability of these cells to multiply. Preventing fibroblasts from increasing in number also helps reduce collagen overproduction. Reducing inflammation is part of reducing the overproduction of cells, and is also key to pain relief if patients are experiencing pain. All of these radiotherapy benefits help slow the progression of the contracture.
What to Expect
The first thing patients can expect when seeking Dupuytren’s radiotherapy treatment options is a consultation with one of our experienced physicians. Patients typically receive 6-10 treatments spread out over a few weeks, and your doctor will determine the best course of action for treatment. During treatment, patients can sit or lie on a table while a machine directs the low-dose radiation to the hand or hands. Our clinic is at the forefront of radiation technology, and the precise placement of radiation treatments won’t affect the healthy tissue surrounding the area.
Treatment sessions are painless and only last a few minutes. Patients can return to regular activity immediately afterward. Radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s contracture uses lower doses of radiation than radiotherapy for cancers, so it’s much safer with almost no side effects. Patients may experience skin dryness in the treatment area or fatigue, but these are usually short-lived.
Radiotherapy Treatment Outcomes
Dupuytren’s radiotherapy treatment options are not a cure for the contracture, but studies have shown they can significantly slow the progression of the contracture, preventing the formation of thick cords and nodules that can curl the fingers in further. For those who receive treatment early on, radiotherapy treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture has delayed or even prevented the need for surgery later on.
Surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture can be painful and involve long recovery times. Dupuytren’s radiotherapy treatment options are non-invasive, safe, and have proven to be effective in slowing the progression of Dupuytren’s contracture. For patients seeking alternatives to surgery, radiotherapy is a promising option.
Step by Step
Dr Sanders is a leading expert in the use of radiotherapy. You can arrange an initial consultation to find out if radiotherapy could be an appropriate treatment for you. Every treatment process is customized per individual. These guidelines serve as a general framework and may be adjusted to ensure the best possible outcome for your treatment.
During the consultation:
Your consultant will ask questions, perform an examination and discuss treatment options with you, including benefits and possible side effects
If it’s agreed that radiotherapy is right for your condition, you’ll need to sign a consent form for your treatment
Your consultant will then outline the nodules and cords which are to be treated
A safety margin will be marked around the tissue to be treated – this allows us to treat the affected area while protecting the unaffected part of your hand
A radiographer will then take a photograph of the area and make a tracing so that the area can accurately be treated each day
After this has been done, you can go home – your treatment will generally start at least a few days later
During your radiotherapy treatment:
You’ll be asked to position yourself underneath a radiotherapy machine, with the hand placed on a positioning bag for the duration of your treatment
Each appointment will take around 10 minutes each day, with the radiotherapy treatment itself taking just under a minute to complete
Your radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s disease will be administered over five consecutive days (excluding weekends) and then repeated after a three-month break.
The radiotherapy will be targeted to the same area throughout your course of treatment, even if the nodules in the hand seem to be decreasing in size. This is done in order to limit the likelihood of recurrence after treatment.
After your radiotherapy treatment:
You’ll receive a follow-up call from us to check how you’re doing after your treatment – here you can discuss any problems, side effects or questions you may have.
Three months after your treatment, you’ll be sent a questionnaire by your consultant so we can assess how your hands are. If necessary, you’ll be able to have an additional consultation over the phone or at one of our clinics to discuss your outcomes in more detail.