Omer BUHSEM
Turkish Journal of Plastic Surgery - 2026;34(4):139-145
Background: Severe proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint contractures in chronic Dupuytren's disease remain difficult to correct due to persistent secondary periarticular contractures despite fasciectomy. This study assessed whether adjunctive checkrein ligament release (CRLR) improves correction compared with fasciectomy alone. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, comparative, cohort study was conducted on 46 fingers in 43 patients with chronic Dupuytren-related PIP contractures >=50 derece. Twenty-five fingers underwent fasciectomy with CRLR and 21 underwent fasciectomy alone. Clinical outcomes were evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Results: Baseline contracture severity was similar between groups (58.8 derece +/-7.7 derece vs. 59.6 derece +/-7.1 derece, P = 0.711). At the final follow-up, residual contracture was significantly lower in the CRLR group (17.5 derece +/-9.0 derece vs. 26.6 derece +/-12.6 derece, P = 0.007). Mean improvement was also significantly greater following CRLR (41.3 derece +/-5.8 derece vs. 33.0 derece +/-10.4 derece, P = 0.001). Both groups demonstrated significant improvement from baseline (P < 0.001). No major complications were observed. Conclusions: Adjunctive CRLR was associated with greater correction and lower residual PIP contracture at 2 years compared with fasciectomy alone in patients with severe chronic Dupuytren-related PIP contractures. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the retrospective, nonrandomized study design.
