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Use of Dynamic External Fixator (Digit Widget) in Dupuytren’s Contracture

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Abstract

The use of the Digit Widget (Hand Biomechanics Lab, Inc., Sacramento, CA) for soft tissue distraction of flexion contractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint caused by Dupuytren’s disease is discussed. Soft tissue distraction using the Digit Widget provides improvement of the flexion contracture by a gradual lengthening of the soft tissues and neurovascular bundle. The gradual lengthening of the soft tissues involved in the contracture is the fundamental difference between the Digit Widget and previous methods of contracture correction such as proximal interphalangeal joint checkrein ligament release plus fasciectomy. It is argued that staged approach using the Digit Widget followed by operative release yields greater correction in Dupuytren’s contractures involving the proximal interphalangeal joint.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5779 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA

    Atanu Biswas MD, MS & Anthony Smith MD

Authors
  1. Atanu Biswas MD, MS
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  2. Anthony Smith MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony Smith MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Division of Hand Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Marco Rizzo

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Biswas, A., Smith, A. (2016). Use of Dynamic External Fixator (Digit Widget) in Dupuytren’s Contracture. In: Rizzo, M. (eds) Dupuytren’s Contracture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23841-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23841-8_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23840-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23841-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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