GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Contracture (con-TRAK-shur)

A bending or curling of your fingers downward toward your palm. This is caused over time by a thick cord that extends from your palm into your fingers.

Cord

A symptom of Dupuytren’s that looks like a rope and may appear in the palm of your hand. Caused by a thickening of tissue below your skin.

Dupuytren’s contracture (du-pwe-TRANZ) (con-TRAK-shur)

Dupuytren’s contracture is a hand condition that can cause a “rope-like” cord on your palm
Over time, the condition can get worse, causing one or more fingers to bend toward the palm so they can’t be straightened
Other terms related to the condition that you may hear your hand specialist mention:

Dupuytren’s disease
Palmar fibromatosis
Morbus Dupuytren
Contraction of palmar fascia
Palmar fascial fibromatosis
Palmar fibromas

MP joints

Metacarpophalangeal (met-uh-KAR-poe-FAH-len-jay-ahl) joints at the bottom of each of your fingers, where your finger meets your palm. Dupuytren’s contracture commonly affects MP joints.

Nodule (NOJ-ool)

A lump or knot that appears below the skin of your palm and is often one of the first signs of Dupuytren's.

PIP joints

Proximal interphalangeal (PROCKS-ee-mahl inter-FAH-len-jay-ahl) joints in the middle of each of your fingers. Dupuytren’s contracture commonly affects PIP joints.

Pitting

A dimpling on the skin of your palm, which can be one of the early signs of Dupuytren’s.

Tabletop Test

A simple test to determine if you may have Dupuytren’s contracture. Lay your palm flat on a table. If you cannot lay your hand completely flat, you may have Dupuytren’s contracture.

Viking disease

Another name for Dupuytren’s contracture, so-called because the condition is more common in people with Northern European (“Viking”) ancestry.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS