Service
Dupuytren's contracture
Dupuytren's contracture is a thickening of tissue in the palm that forms nodules and cords and gradually bends a finger towards the palm, most often the little finger and ring finger. It is inherited and is not caused by work with the hands. It is treated when the finger can no longer lie flat on a table.
What concerns does it address?
Surgery
The thickened tissue is cut out through a zigzag incision on the palm and finger, so that the scar does not tighten. After the procedure a splint is worn and exercises are done. The contracture can return over the years — that is discussed at the examination.
Dermojet
At an earlier stage, when there is a cord without a large bend, a medicine is injected into the cord without a needle with a dermojet device. It is less invasive and can be repeated.
When is the procedure not suitable?
A nodule on the palm without bending of the finger is not operated on — it is monitored. Surgery is done when the finger can no longer be fully straightened and that bothers you (test: the palm cannot be laid flat on a table). The procedure is not planned with poor circulation in the hand or uncontrolled diabetes, and if you smoke, stopping is agreed with you beforehand, because the skin of the palm heals slowly after the procedure.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — stiffness of the finger that needs exercises, slower healing of the wound on the palm, return of the contracture over the years.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Dupuytren's contracture surgery under local anaesthesia | €1,400–1,600 |
| Dupuytren's contracture treatment with the dermojet technique | €99–150 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
Why does the finger bend? Nodules and hard cords form in the connective tissue under the skin of the palm; they shrink and gradually pull the finger — most often the little finger and ring finger. It is not caused by work or injury; the tendency is inherited, more common in men and after the age of fifty.
Can it be treated without surgery? A nodule without bending is not treated. When the finger bends, the cord can be cut with a needle through the skin (for simple cords) or removed by surgery; which is right for you depends on how far it has spread.
Does it come back? The disease is a tendency, so over the years it can return on the same or another finger — less often after removal than after cutting with a needle. A splint at night and exercises in the first months reduce renewed tightening.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.