How palmar skin affects outcomes after Dupuytren surgery

Skin Involvement in Dupuytren Surgical Treatment Outcome: Interventional Study on Prognostic Value of Cutometry, Ultrasound and Histopathology

Not applicable Interventional Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven · NCT07470684

We will test whether features of the palmar skin and attached myofibroblasts help predict recurrence after microfasciectomy in adults with Dupuytren disease.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven Academic / other
Locations1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant)
Trial IDNCT07470684 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This prospective interventional study enrolls adults with primary Dupuytren disease who are scheduled for microfasciectomy. Investigators will measure skin mechanics with suction cutometry, image the palm with ultrasound, and obtain small microbiopsies for histological analysis of myofibroblast presence and orientation. Histology will examine whether aligned myofibroblasts fixed to deep dermal layers are associated with retracted skin and with later clinical recurrence. Clinical outcomes after surgery will be linked to the skin and imaging findings to see if skin features can inform prognosis and surgical choices.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18 and older) with primary Dupuytren disease who are scheduled for microfasciectomy and can give written informed consent.

Not a fit: Patients with prior Dupuytren surgery on the same hand, those under 18, or those not undergoing microfasciectomy are unlikely to benefit from this study's procedures or findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help surgeons predict which patients are at higher risk of recurrence and choose surgical techniques that reduce that risk.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier work has reported myofibroblasts in retracted palmar skin and lower recurrence after full-thickness grafting, but prospective confirmation linking skin histology directly to recurrence is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures.
2. Patients ≥ 18 years old, diagnosed with primary Dupuytren disease.
3. Patients must be scheduled for microfasciectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Earlier Dupuytren surgery in the hand scheduled for microfasciectomy
2. Patient's unable to give a written participating consent.
3. Younger than 18 years of age.

Where this trial is running

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Dupuytren Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.