Dupuytren's contracture is a painless thickening and fixed tightening (contracture) of the tissue beneath the skin on the palm of the hand and fingers. Progressive contracture may result in deformity and loss of function of the hand.

Note: Please see the following related document(s) for additional information:

• CG-DRUG-27  Clostridial Collagenase Histolyticum Injection

Medically Necessary:

Surgical treatment for Dupuytren's contracture is considered medically necessary when a palpable palmar cord has been documented to impair the individual's functional activities AND any of the following:

• Contracture at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint or distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of 20 degrees or more; or
• Contracture at the metacarpophalanageal (MP) joint of 20 degrees or more; or
• Rapid progression of finger contracture; or
• Symptomatic fibromatosis in the hand.

Not Medically Necessary:
Surgical treatment for Dupuytren's contracture is considered not medically necessary when the criteria above are not met.

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this document are included below for informational purposes.  Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy.  Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

Future ICD-10 coding (effective 10/01/2013)
A draft of ICD-10 Coding related to this document, as it might look today, is available for reference and comments at: Appendix 1: Future ICD-10 coding

Dupuytren's contracture is a multifactorial disease meaning that several causes have been associated with the development of the disease, but a single cause is not known. The disease is most common in Caucasian males over 50 years of age. It has also been shown to be more common in those with diabetes, seizure disorders, HIV positive status, hypothyroidism, those who smoke and those who consume alcohol. Minor trauma and genetic predisposition may play a role. One or both hands may be affected. The ring finger is affected most often, followed by the little, middle, and index fingers. The MP and PIP joints are the most commonly affected joints.

Initially, a small, painless nodule develops in the connective tissue and eventually develops into a cord-like band. The cord tightens over time, pulling the affected finger towards the palm in an abnormal position. Extension of the finger becomes difficult to impossible with advanced cases. The goal of surgery (palmar fasciectomy) is to release or excise the fibrous attachments between the palmar fascia and the tissues around it, thereby releasing the contracture. Once released, finger movement should improve; this is largely dependent upon the joint(s) being treated. Surgery is more effective if the contracture occurs in the MP joint of only one finger and is less effective when two or more fingers and MP joints are involved. When the contracture occurs at the PIP joint, the improvement rate decreases (Bird, 2007).

Peer Reviewed Publications:

1. Dias JJ, Braybrooke J. Dupuytren's contracture: an audit of the outcomes of surgery. J Hand Surg [Br]. 2006; 31(5): 514-521.
2. Lee LC, Zhang AY, Chong AK, et al. Expression of a novel gene, MafB, in Dupuytren's disease. J Hand Surg. 2006; 31(2): 211-218.

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

1. Bayes, JH. Bunnell's Surgery of the Hand, 5th Edition. J. B. Lippincott Company, 1980: 225-254.
2. Bird B, Ball C, Balasuntharam P. Rehabilitation after surgery for Dupuytren's contracture. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007; (2):CD006508.
3. Canale: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 9th Edition. Mosby, 1998: 3675-3684.
4. Green, David (Ed.). Operative Hand Surgery, 3rd Edition. Churchill-Livingstone, 1993: 567.

1. American Academy Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). Dupuytren's Contracture. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?thread_id=140&topcategory=hand. Accessed on June 15, 2011.
2. Dupuytrens Foundation. Available at: http://www.dupuytrenfoundation.org/. Accessed on June 16, 2011.

Dupuytren's Contracture Release