Bent Fingers Impacting Your Day? It Could be Dupuytren’s Contracture

Bent Fingers Impacting Your Day? It Could be Dupuytren’s Contracture

By WebMD

XIAFLEX®—an FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment for adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a “cord” can be felt.

Dupuytren’s contracture is a hand condition that may get worse over time. It’s caused by a buildup of collagen under the skin that can form a rope-like cord. As time goes on, it can bend one or more of your fingers so you can’t straighten them.

Dupuytren’s contracture can occur in one or both hands. In either hand, the condition most commonly affects:

PIP = proximal interphalangeal; MP = metacarpophalangeal

How Does Dupuytren’s Contracture Affect You?

As time passes, Dupuytren’s contracture can bend one or more of your fingers so you can’t straighten them. This may limit how much you can move or straighten your fingers.

Stages of Dupuytren’s Contracture

It’s important to recognize the signs and talk to a hand specialist early on if you think you may have Dupuytren’s contracture. The condition may get worse over time. A doctor can help you treat it, though.

To learn about a nonsurgical treatment option, visit XIAFLEX.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR XIAFLEX®

Do not receive XIAFLEX® if you have had an allergic reaction to collagenase clostridium histolyticum or any of the ingredients in XIAFLEX®, or to any other collagenase product. See the end of the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in XIAFLEX®.

XIAFLEX® can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Tendon rupture or ligament damage. Receiving an injection of XIAFLEX® may cause damage to a tendon or ligament in your hand and cause it to break or weaken. This could require surgery to fix the damaged tendon or ligament. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have trouble bending your injected finger (towards the wrist) after the swelling goes down or you have problems using your treated hand after your follow-up visit
  • Nerve injury or other serious injury of the hand. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get numbness, tingling, increased pain, or tears in the skin (laceration) in your treated finger or hand after your injection or after your follow-up visit
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Severe allergic reactions can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX® because it contains foreign proteins. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction after an injection of XIAFLEX®:
  •  hives
  •  swollen face
  •  breathing trouble
  •  chest pain
  •  low blood pressure
  •  dizziness or fainting
  • Increased chance of bleeding. Bleeding or bruising at the injection site can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX®. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have a problem with your blood clotting. XIAFLEX® may not be right for you.

Before receiving XIAFLEX®, tell your healthcare provider if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous XIAFLEX® injection, or have a bleeding problem or any other medical conditions. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using XIAFLEX® with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines to thin your blood (anticoagulants). If you are told to stop taking a blood thinner before your XIAFLEX® injection, your healthcare provider should tell you when to restart the blood thinner. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are unsure.

The most common side effects with XIAFLEX® for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture include:

  • swelling of the injection site or the hand
  • bruising or bleeding at the injection site
  • pain or tenderness of the injection site or the hand
  • swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in the elbow or armpit
  • itching
  • breaks in the skin
  • redness or warmth of the skin
  • pain in the armpit

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with XIAFLEX®. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

WHAT IS XIAFLEX®?

XIAFLEX® is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a “cord” can be felt. It is not known if XIAFLEX® is safe and effective in children under the age of 18.

Please see the full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

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