Dupuytren's contracture in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus--a case report.

BACKGROUND

Dupuytren's contracture is one of the manifestations of the hand syndrome in diabetes mellitus (DM). Its occurrence in diabetes mellitus is not commonly reported in this environment. This report aims to highlight the occurrence of Dupuytren's contracture as a rare manifestation of diabetic hand syndrome in a patient with type 2 DM.

METHOD: The case note of a patient with type 2 DM who developed Dupuytren's contracture in both hands and the available literature on the subject were reviewed.

RESULT: A 62-year-old Nigerian male Islamic Cleric with type 2 DM for sixteen years on follow-up at the Diabetes clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, developed flexion deformity involving both palms. His symptoms had progressed gradually over the preceding nine months before presentation. Physical examination revealed bilateral Dupuytren's contracture of the palms with hyperkeratosis and flexion deformities of the fingers. He was admitted to the surgical ward of JUTH and had surgery in the right hand. He is to have surgery in the left hand on a later date.

CONCLUSION

Dupuytren's contracture is a rare presentation of diabetic hand syndrome. A careful hand examination by physicians in all DM patients for early diagnosis and treatment is recommended.