Dupuytren's contracture

Meaning

1. 1noununcountable

   A condition in which thick tissue forms under the skin of the palm and slowly pulls one or more fingers into a bent position.

   Grammar: Used without an article as a condition: he has Dupuytren's contracture.

   Patterns

   • have Dupuytren's contracture
   • treatment for Dupuytren's contracture

   Her father was diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture when his ring finger stopped straightening.

   Surgeons may remove the tight tissue in advanced Dupuytren's contracture.

   Dupuytren's contracture is more common in older men of northern European descent.

Common combinations

diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture

He was diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture last year.

treatment for Dupuytren's contracture

Treatment for Dupuytren's contracture may involve injections.

early signs of Dupuytren's contracture

A firm lump in the palm is an early sign of Dupuytren's contracture.

surgery for Dupuytren's contracture

Surgery for Dupuytren's contracture can restore movement.

Synonyms and how they differ

Dupuytren's disease

This is another accepted name and avoids the word contracture, which some clinicians use for the bent finger itself.

palmar fibromatosis

This is the more technical medical term and sounds more formal.

Viking disease

This is a popular nickname linked to the condition's frequency in northern Europeans, and it is informal.

Word family

contracture noun

a permanent shortening of muscle or tissue

contract verb

to tighten or shrink

palm noun

the inner surface of the hand

fascia noun

connective tissue under the skin

Commonly confused: Dupuytren's contracture or carpal tunnel syndrome?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Dupuytren's contracture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words