The open palm technique.

Dupuytren's disease presents a difficult problem that should not be treated casually. It is a continuing, unpredictable condition in which surgery is the only treatment available when contracture occurs. Surgery itself may cause an acceleration of the disease. Patients should be made aware that this is a continuing problem, often unpredictable in its course, with and without treatment. It is a pervasive disease, and when surgery is unsuccessful, the hand that underwent surgery may worsen. The open palm technique is a useful technique for avoiding complications in the early postoperative period. It is particularly useful in those patients with significant metacarpophalangeal joint contractures at more than one finger. The open palm technique does not affect the long-term outcome in these patients.