Dupuytren’s contracture (also called Dupuytren’s disease) is an abnormal thickening of the skin in the palm of your hand at the base of your fingers. This thickened area may develop into a hard lump or thick band.

Dupuytren’s Disease is a condition that affects the palmar fascia. This is a structure that lies between the skin and the tendons on the palmar side of the hand. The palmar fascia is like a mesh that stabilizes the skin from gliding excessively over the underlying tendons. Dupuytren’s Disease occurs when the palmar fascia spontaneously contracts, causing the fingers to bend.

For some patients, this may only cause a lump on the palmar side of the hand. More advanced cases will have bent fingers that cannot be straightened out.