Results after surgery for severe Dupuytren's contracture: Does a dynamic extension splint influence outcome?

Seventy-six consecutive patients were operated on for advanced Dupuytren's contracture and the results evaluated after nine months with special refere nce to the use of a dynamic extension splint. The patients were separated i nto three groups: those in whom the splint was used according to our guidel ines (n = 15); those in whom the splint was used, but inadequately (n = 15) ; and those who did not require splinting (n = 24). Our results nine months postoperatively were similar to those of other studies in showing that the fifth proximal interphalangeal joint constituted the greatest problem. Com parison of the three groups indicated that splinting the way we used it did not influence the natural course of the disease after operation.