Three-year recurrence of Dupuytren's contracture after needle fasciotomy and collagenase injection: a two-centre randomized controlled trial

Collagenase injection and needle fasciotomy have similar short-term outcomes in the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture. The purpose of this study was to compare the recurrence rate of these two procedures 3years after index treatment of primary disease. We enrolled 93 patients (96 rays) from a previous two-centre randomized controlled trial. The rays that had been retreated or showed an increase in the total passive extension deficit of 30 degrees or more compared with 3months after treatment were regarded as recurrences. Seventeen of 40 needle fasciectomies and 12 of 36 of collagenase injections had recurred. This difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that collagenase injection and needle fasciotomy have similar 3-year recurrence rates in the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture. Level of evidence: I