One or both hands may be affected. The ring finger is affected most often followed by the little, middle, and index fingers. A small, painless nodule develops in the connective tissue and eventually develops into a cord-like band. Extension of the fingers becomes difficult to impossible with advanced cases. The incidence increases after the age of 40, and men are affected more often than women.
Risk factors are alcoholism , epilepsy , pulmonary tuberculosis , diabetes , and liver disease .
Awareness of risk factors may allow early detection and treatment. The progression of the contracture is monitored. Surgery may be performed to release the contracture, depending on the severity of the condition. Normal movement of the fingers is usually restored by surgery followed by physical therapy exercises for the hand. The disorder progresses at an unpredictable rate.