Dupuytren Contracture - How Fibromatosis Remodels the Palmar Subcutaneous Tissue and Its Fibrous Environment

Abstract

Our understanding of the process of contracture of the fingers is based on extrinsic and intrinsic theories. Yet there has always been an inherent contradiction in these concepts. Additionally, nearly all of these theories proceed from the assumption of a contractio digitorum and this assumption is reflected in basic research as well. The author presents a concept, which describes the finger contracture more accurately as retention in the flexed position. This contraction-free concept, deduced from the function and structure of the palmar subcutaneous tissue, combines the different pathogenic aspects. Palmar fibromatosis primarily manifests itself in the palmar subcutaneous tissue. The function of this tissue was studied in the living hand; the anatomic structure of the subcutaneous fibrofatty tissue was studied for the first time in slice plastinates of adult hands. The palmar tissue exhibits varying tissue consistencies. It is compressed and expanded as the fingers move. In fibromatosis, fibrous nodules infiltrate the finger tissue in its shortened flexion configuration, which predominates both by day and by night. In the normal hand, the anchoring fibers allow nearly tension-free deformation of the skin tissue. In fibromatosis, this tissue loses its extensibility. Motion in the finger subjects the new formed tissue to tensile stress. This in turn provides the decisive stimulus for adaptive tissue transformation. This process does not require any active contraction. It plausibly explains the finger contracture as an extension block. In the contraction-free concept, the myofibroblast is understood to be a form of fibroblast that resists the tension arising in the tissue by isometric contraction. The contraction-free concept can explain all clinical pictures of fibromatosis as reactive remodeling of the specific local host tissue. It can also provide basic research with a conclusive anatomic pattern. Moreover, it implies a specific therapeutic paradigm: Treatment options that influence the formation of pathologic tissue and address the characteristic tensile stress will be able to control the root causes of the deformity.

Adiponectin inhibits fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren’s contracture in male patients

“…24,25 The mechanism of fibrosis involves de novo transformation from adipose tissue around the palmar aponeurosis, with adipose tissue eventually being replaced with fibrous tissue. 3 Against this pathological background, we hypothesized that adipocytokines secreted from adipose tissue around the palmar aponeurosis may be involved in fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis in patients with Dupuytren's contracture. In recent years, the adipose tissue has emerged as an endocrine organ that secretes various bioactive substances.…”

“… 1 In contrast, the extrinsic theory holds that nodules arise de novo by transformation of fibrofatty tissue, 2 and eventually, the infiltrating fibrous tissue displaces the adipose tissue. 3 Based on the pathophysiology of fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis due to de novo fibrotic changes in adipose tissue, adipocytokines secreted from adipose tissue may be involved in the fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren’s contracture. Various growth factors and signalling pathways have already been reported to be involved in fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren’s contracture.…”

Morphophysiological characteristics of skin microcirculation types in patients with Dupuytren’s contracture

“…Контрактура Дюпюитрена (ладонный фасциальный фиброматоз) характеризуется аномально высокой пролиферацией, миграцией и биосинтетической активностью фибробластов и миофибробластов. Узлы и тяжи, сформированные этими клетками, инфильтрируют не только ладонную и пальцевую фасции, но и более поверхностные ткани, в том числе дерму кожи [1], где фибро матоз нередко и начинается [2]. В типичных случаях прогрессирующая контрактура пястно-фаланговых и проксимальных межфаланговых суставов захватывает пальцы локтевой стороны кисти [3].…”