Dupuytren's disease is a very common condition, affecting 4% of the general UK and US population. It causes the fingers to curl irreversibly into the palm and can be extremely disabling. The disease usually starts as a small firm lump (nodule) in the palm, and in about 40% of patients advances to form cords that pull the fingers into the palm. There is no approved treatment for the early stage of disease. Once patients have established deformities, the diseased tissue can removed by surgery or cut using less invasive techniques such as a needle or an enzyme. However, recovery following surgery usually takes several months and recurrence rates with the less invasive techniques are high.