Moderate pressure for 10–20 seconds ruptures the cord.After the treatment with collagenase the person should use a night splint and perform digital flexion/extension exercises several times per day for 4 months.In February 2010 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved injectable collagenase extracted from Clostridium histolyticum for the treatment of Dupuytrens contracture in adults with a palpable Dupuytrens cord. (Three years later, it was approved as well for the treatment of the sometimes related Peyronies disease.) In 2011 its use for the treatment of Dupuytrens contracture was approved as well by the European Medicines Agency, and it received similar approval in Australia in 2013. However, the Swedish manufacturer abruptly withdrew distribution of this drug in Europe and the UK in March 2020 for commercial reasons. (It now is promoted primarily as a dermatological treatment for cellulite aka "cottage cheese thighs"). Collagenase is no longer available on the National Health System except as part of a small clinical trial. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy has been used mostly for early-stage disease, but is unproven. Evidence to support its use as of 2017, however, was scarce —efforts to gather evidence are complicated due to a poor understanding of how the condition develops over time. It has only been looked at in early disease. The Royal College of Radiologists concluded that radiotherapy is effective in early stage disease which has progressed within the last 6 to 12 months. Alternative medicine
Several alternate therapies such as vitamin E treatment have been studied, though without control groups.
Pieces of cord and fascia of approximately one centimeter are excised. The cords are placed under maximum tension while they are cut. A scalpel is used to separate the tissues. The surgeon keeps removing small parts until the finger can fully extend. The person is encouraged to start moving his or her hand the day after surgery. They wear an extension splint for two to three weeks, except during physical therapy.The same procedure is used in the segmental fasciectomy with cellulose implant. After the excision and a careful hemostasis, the cellulose implant is placed in a single layer in between the remaining parts of the cord.After surgery people wear a light pressure dressing for four days, followed by an extension splint. The splint is worn continuously during nighttime for eight weeks. During the first weeks after surgery the splint may be worn during daytime. Less invasive treatments
Studies have been conducted for percutaneous release, extensive percutaneous aponeurotomy with lipografting and collagenase. These treatments show promise. Percutaneous needle fasciotomy
Needle aponeurotomy is a minimally-invasive technique where the cords are weakened through the insertion and manipulation of a small needle. The cord is sectioned at as many levels as possible in the palm and fingers, depending on the location and extent of the disease, using a 25-gauge needle mounted on a 10 ml syringe. Once weakened, the offending cords can be snapped by putting tension on the finger(s) and pulling the finger(s) straight.