T hink about how important the use of your hands are throughout the day. Driving,

writing, dressing, using a computer, the list is almost endless. Are you finding these everyday tasks more difficult? You may have some signs or symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease.Dupuytren’s disease is a slowly progressive condition, affecting the palm of the hand and the fingers. The condition can develop into what is known as Dupuytren’s contracture1, where the finger bends permanently toward the palm of the hand. Dupuytren’s contracture is a debilitating condition that can severely impact everyday activities2.

Jonathan AgnewFormer England cricketer and commentator Jonathan Agnew is a

1 Townley WA, et al. Dupuytren’s contracture unfolded. BMJ 2006; 332: 397-400 2 NHS Choices website. Dupuytren’s contracture. Available from: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dupuytrens-contracture/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Last accessed 04.10.11 3 Hurst LC, Badalamente MA, Hentz VR et al. New Eng J Med. 2009;361:968-979 4 Bayat and Mcgrouther, Management of Dupuytren’s disease – clear advice for an elusive condition, Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2006; 88: 3–8Job code: CA0001373. Date of prep: November 2011

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Get a helping handAround 2 million people in the UK are affected by Dupuytren,s disease1.If you think you,re one of them, visit your GP. It is in your hands.

For more information visitwww.itisinyourhands.co.uk.

sufferer of Dupuytren’s contracture. It particularly bothers him, as he is also a keen pianist.

“I first thought something was wrong just over ten years ago when I noticed these strange bumps in my hand, my sister-in-law (a GP) quickly diagnosed me with Dupuytren’s disease but didn’t seem too concerned. A year later I was on a train and tried to hang my jacket up and my fingers got tangled. I noticed that my little fingers on both hands were really quite curled over and I decided to do something about it.” Since then, Jonathan has had seven operations to remove the disease but the condition continues to remain in both his little fingers.

“Having Dupuytren’s contracture can be very frustrating, you can’t get coins out of your pockets and

it’s embarrassing to shake hands which is a big part of my job. I do get paranoid that people will notice, particularly any future grandchildren.”

“My advice to anyone who might have Dupuytren’s disease would definitely be go and see your doctor.”

What to doThere are a range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options available for Dupuytren’s contracture, so visit your GP to discuss them further. Dupuytren’s contracture gets progressively worse over time. Although there is no cure, diagnosis and treatment can prevent progression and permanent damage to the hand4.

Symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease • Thickening of the skin on the palm of the hand1,3

• ‘Rope-like’ growth under the skin on the palm1

• Tethering (as if the skin is being pulled from the inside) and pitting (indentation of the skin) on thepalm of the hand1

• Small painless lumps in the palm, which you can touch2

• A finger bent inwards towards the palm, which you are unable to straighten2

Jonathan Agnew in action against Sri Lanka and, inset, in his role as commentator

Jonathan’s right hand

Supported and funded by Pfizer Limited as part of a disease awareness campaign.