title: Health-related quality of life in patients undergoing palmar fasciectomy for Dupuytren's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was undertaken to assess the health-related quality of life in patients with Dupuytren's disease who undergo palmar fasciectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of patients with Dupuytren's disease undergoing palmar and/or digital fasciectomy was recruited from the practice of three plastic surgeons in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After written informed consent was obtained, participants were asked to complete three health-related quality-of-life questionnaires (i.e., Short Form-36, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, and Health Utility Index Mark 3) at five time points: at 1 week and 1 day preoperatively, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Ranges of motion and grip strength measurement were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 26 patients in the study, the multiattribute scores of the Health Utility Index Mark 3 improved from 0.80 before surgery to 0.83 at 12 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). There was no difference in the Short Form-36 scores, but the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire scores improved from 74 at 1 week preoperatively to 90 at the 12-month postoperative visit (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who undergo palmar fasciectomy for Dupuytren's disease experience a substantial improvement in their health-related quality of life 12 months after surgery. In the authors' study population, a benefit of 0.85 quality-adjusted life-year within 12 months was observed. This can be translated as follows: the average patient who undergoes palmar fasciectomy gains the equivalent of approximately 14.4 days (0.48 months) in perfect health by undergoing palmar fasciectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors.affiliation: Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario, Canada From the Division of Plastic Surgery and the Surgical Outcomes Research Center, Department of Surgery, the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Offord Center for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University; and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Manraj Nirmal
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Teegan Ali
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ignacy
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levis
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duku
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D018737:Hand Strength; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular