Comparison of Collagenase Injection and Percutaneous Needle Aponeurotomy for Treatment of Dupuytren's Disease

Dupuytren's disease is a non-curative, progressive disorder leading to function-impairing deformities of the hand. Although numerous treatments exist, the most common and widely accepted therapy is removal of diseased fascia. Surgery is limited by prolonged recovery time, and many patients require multiple surgeries throughout their life as the disease progresses, with repeat surgeries increasing the risk of complications.

Long recovery times and need for repeat surgeries has renewed interest in minimally invasive treatments for Dupuytren's disease. Percutaneous needle aponeurotomy (PNA) allows for rapid improvement in finger extension with minimal recovery time. The FDA approved collagenase clostridium histolyticum injection for Dupuytren's disease in 2010, which also allows for rapid increase in finger extension, also with minimal recovery time. Currently there is only one small study comparing PNA and collagenase injection (CI) that suggests similar outcomes in both treatments. Both treatments are minimally invasive, requiring minimal time off work and post-procedure pain. The main barrier to widespread adoption of CI is cost, particularly in patients with multiple areas of disease requiring treatment. The project proposed will compare these two methods for treating Dupuytren's disease.

Approximately 334 participants will be recruited from patients referred for treatment to hand surgeons trained in CI and PNA at two Calgary, AB hospitals. Need for treatment will be determined in the usual fashion, and the option for entry into the study will be proposed to patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomized into either the PNA or CI treatment group. The surgeon will not be blinded to the procedure group; however, the therapist measuring outcomes will be, and the study participants will need to not divulge to the therapists which group they are in.

Both procedures are performed under local freezing, and range from 5-20minutes. PNA involves the surgeon freezing the skin over the Dupuytren's cord, then using a small gauge needle inserted under the skin to cut the cord. This is repeated up the length of the cord to weaken it, allowing the surgeon to extend the finger and rupture the cord. CI involves the injection of collagenase (Xiaflex®), directly into the Dupuytren's cord. The patient then returns to see the surgeon within one week, has freezing placed in the hand, and the affected digit is extended to rupture the already weakened cord.

The patient will be required to present to the hand therapist team for measurements of joint angles before and after the assigned treatment is performed. In order to measure treatment efficacy, study participants will be required to return for measurements of treated joints every 6 months. Lastly, participants will need to inform the performing surgeon or therapist, at follow-up visits of any complications they experience.