Serious complications and risk of re-operation after Dupuytren's disease surgery: a population-based cohort study of 121,488 patients in England

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 5;10(1):16520. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73595-y.

Abstract

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a common fibro-proliferative disorder of the palm. We estimated the risk of serious local and systemic complications and re-operation after DD surgery. We queried England's Hospital Episode Statistics database and included all adult DD patients who were surgically treated. A longitudinal cohort study and self-controlled case series were conducted. Between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2017, 121,488 adults underwent 158,119 operations for DD. The cumulative incidence of 90-day serious local complications was low at 1.2% (95% CI 1.1-1.2). However, the amputation rate for re-operation by limited fasciectomy following dermofasciectomy was 8%. 90-day systemic complications were also uncommon at 0.78% (95% CI 0.74-0.83), however operations routinely performed under general or regional anaesthesia carried an increased risk of serious systemic complications such as myocardial infarction. Re-operation was lower than previous reports (33.7% for percutaneous needle fasciotomy, 19.5% for limited fasciectomy, and 18.2% for dermofasciectomy). Overall, DD surgery performed in England was safe; however, re-operation by after dermofasciectomy carries a high risk of amputation. Furthermore, whilst serious systemic complications were unusual, the data suggest that high-risk patients should undergo treatment under local anaesthesia. These data will inform better shared decision-making regarding this common condition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Biometry
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dupuytren Contracture / complications*
  • Dupuytren Contracture / etiology
  • Dupuytren Contracture / surgery*
  • England / epidemiology
  • Fasciotomy / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hand / surgery
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patients
  • Reoperation / adverse effects
  • Research Design