Palmaris Longus Muscle and Dupuytren

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Dupuytren's Disease

Treatments: Procedure: Ultrasound; Procedure: Non-invasive tests to determine the presence or absence of the palmaris longus tendon in both hands.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06281509

S68374

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dupuytren disease is a medical condition characterized by the painless formation of nodules in the palm of the hand. Cords are formed on the palmar fascia, a connective tissue sheet in the palm of the hand. This fascia is seen as the vestigial remnant of the palmaris longus tendon. The PLM attaches to the fascia palmaris. A muscle that not everyone has and can therefore be clearly missed. This raises the question of whether the presence of the musculus palmaris longus has any association with the development, recurrence and/or progression of DD and contractures. To investigate a potential predisposition, this study intend to assess the prevalence of the PLM in a group of individuals affected by DD and compare it with a control group (age matched, no signs of DD) without the condition.

Full description

Dupuytren disease is also known as Dupuytren contracture. It is a medical condition characterized by the painless formation of nodules in the palm of the hand. As the disease progresses, approximately 21% - 50% of all patients experience a transformation of these nodules (stage 0/N of Tubiana) into cord-like structures. These cords, in turn, lead to finger contractures (Tubiana stages 1-4) with impairment of hand mobility and stiffening of the palmar skin. The cords are formed on the palmar fascia, a connective tissue sheet in the palm of the hand. This fascia is seen as the vestigial remnant of the palmaris longus tendon. The PLM attaches to the fascia palmaris. A muscle that not everyone has and can therefore be clearly missed. This raises the question of whether the presence of the musculus palmaris longus has any association with the development, recurrence and/or progression of DD and contractures. To investigate a potential predisposition, this study intend to assess the prevalence of the PLM in a group of individuals affected by DD and compare it with a control group (age matched, no signs of DD) without the condition. Interestingly, prior research has already explored this topic. Despite the publication dating back to 1986, it reported a significantly higher occurrence of the palmaris longus tendon in patients affected by DD. Furthermore, a second article from the same year concluded a significant decrease in recurrence when the palmaris longus tendon was resected in combination with regional fasciectomy. Remarkably, no other research on this topic was found despite the promising results of both articles.

Enrollment: 240 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The participant or his/her legally authorized representative voluntary signed the informed consent prior to the first assessment.
• 50 years of age or higher.
• Has Dupuytren disease (primary or recurrent). (Only applicable for participants of DD group)
• Has no medical conditions affecting the function of the hand (musculoskeletal pathology, vascular or neurological conditions such as CRPS, rheumatoid arthritis and paralysis). (Only applicable for participants of control group)

Exclusion criteria

• Patients < 50 years
• Patients with cognitive impairments.
• Patients showing signs of medical conditions affecting the function of the hand (musculoskeletal pathology, vascular or neurological conditions such as CRPS, rheumatoid arthritis and paralysis). (Only applicable for participants of control group)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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240 participants in 2 patient groups

Patients with Dupuytren disease

Experimental group

Description:

120 individuals diagnosed with Dupuytren disease (primary or recurrent).

Treatment:

Procedure: Non-invasive tests to determine the presence or absence of the palmaris longus tendon in both hands.

Procedure: Ultrasound

Healthy controls

Experimental group

Description:

120 participants with no other medical conditions affecting the function of the hand (musculoskeletal pathology, vascular or neurological conditions such as CRPS, rheumatoid arthritis and paralysis).

Treatment:

Procedure: Non-invasive tests to determine the presence or absence of the palmaris longus tendon in both hands.

Procedure: Ultrasound