My uncle has had two surgeries for a problem in his left hand called Dupuytren's contracture. He told me his father had it as well. Are there any specific risk factors or group of people who are more prone to it than others?
Doctors don't yet know what causes Dupuytren's contracture, a condition where the tissue beneath the palm of your hand thickens and tightens. This results on pulling, which in turn frequently results in the fingers being pulled inwards, towards the palm of the hand. What doctors do know is that it happens more often in men than in women, and usually later in life, in their 50s or 60s. There does tend to be a family history of the condition and people with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and epilepsy do seem to be at a higher risk of developing it. Hurting your hand can contribute to the development, as can excessive alcohol intake.
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