Doctor pleased with Xiaflex’s role in Dupuytren’s battle

by Mike Parks

A doctor in the Charlotte area is helping patients with Dupuytren’s Disease thanks to a new procedure called Xiaflex.

Dupuytren’s Disease affects the palm and fingers, as the fascia, a tissue under the skin of the palm, becomes thick and slowly limits the motion of the fingers. Also known as Viking disease because it often hits people with ancestors from northern Europe, Dupuytren’s will gradually pull the tissue until the fingers are bent down into the palm.

This was the case for Skeet Harris, of Charlotte, who started to see the disease affect his left hand about three or four years ago. The issue made it tough for Harris to do something as simple as open a door, type or tie his shoes.

So, he turned to OrthoCarolina, which has recently started offering Xiaflex as a treatment for the contracture. Harris started noticing improvement immediately.

“(My hand’s) not quite 100 percent, but the deterioration happened over a period of 10 years,” Harris said. Now, only a short time after the procedure, he says he’s back at “90 percent.”

Instead of surgery that leaves a large incision needing time to heal, doctors at OrthoCarolina have worked with a small group of people, like Harris, by injecting them with Xiaflex, which actually causes part of the tightening of the palpable cords, which pull the fingers down into the palm.

Patients then return to the doctor the day after the shot to receive a local anesthetic before doctors try to pull the finger back in place. Often there is an audible “pop” preceding the finger straightening back out, giving many patients immediate results no matter how long they’ve suffered through Dupuytren’s.

While the treatment isn’t right for everyone, and doctors are quick to say it isn’t a cure, they are pleased with the results seen thus far.

“The preliminary results for Xiaflex are quite encouraging, and although some patients may eventually require surgery, the procedure has provided us with a less invasive way to treat Dupuytren’s,” said Dr. John Gaul, who treats patients in the Charlotte area. “Our patients, physicians and therapists involved have all been pleased with the results.”