Mind & Body

Dupuytren’s contracture is a slow, progressive condition of the hand that causes the finger to pull permanently towards the palm. Famous sufferers include Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

A Psychological Burden

A new survey highlights how this condition can significantly impact how we interact with others and can become a psychological burden since sufferers are unable to everyday things such as dressing, washing, driving and shaking hands.

In addition to the obvious day-to-day problems associated with loss of hand function, there can be wider psychological effects.

Loss of confidence

Over half (52%) of people questioned in the recent survey stated that their preferred method of greeting someone they are meeting for the first time is shaking hands, with over a third (35%) saying they measure a stranger’s confidence based on a firm handshake.

Over half of people surveyed (53%) said that being unable to shake hands would affect their working life the most and more than 20% felt that their social life would be most affected. Similarly nearly half (47%) of those surveyed said they would be upset if they were unable to hold hands with their partner, children or grandchildren.

How we are judged

“As this survey has reinforced, people judge each other and themselves by their handshake, particularly in Britain where the handshake is a very British thing,” said Judi James, one of the UK’s leading body language and behaviour authors.

“A disease like Dupuytren’s that interferes with this can have a significant effect on a person’s confidence and their interactions with people. As well as an impact at work or socially, a lack of hand function can also have an effect on family relationships since so many people hold hands to display affection to their loved ones.”

The mainstay of treatment up until now has been surgery with 12,000 operations taking place in the UK every year. However, surgery is associated with post-operative complications, high rates of recurrence and disruption to patients’ lives.

Surgery was once the only option

“Patients can be reluctant to have surgery due to the possibility of scarring and prolonged time of recovery. Therefore a new treatment that provides an alternative option to surgery is important news for people in the UK living with Dupuytren’s,” said Chris Bainbridge, Consultant Hand Surgeon, Pulvertaft Centre for Hand Surgery, Royal Derby Hospital.

A new alternative

Xiapex is a non-operative treatment option which can be administered as an outpatient procedure. Administration involves an injection and finger extension procedure 24 hours later.

“The development and availability of a new treatment like Xiapex for Dupuytren’s contracture demonstrates Pfizer’s continued commitment to bring new innovative medicines to patients and is good news for patients and physicians alike,” said, Jonathan Jones, Medical Director of the Speciality Care Business Unit at Pfizer Limited.

Ask your doctor

Find out about the alternatives available and ask you GP.