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 .
Treatment Exercises, warm water baths, or splints may be helpful. 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.