Dupuytren's disease in bosnia and herzegovina. An epidemiological study

BACKGROUND: It is generally held that Dupuytren's disease is more common in northern than in southern Europe, but there are very few studies from southern European countries. METHODS: We examined the hands of 1207 men and women over the age of 50 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina. RESULTS: The prevalence of Dupuytren's disease was highly age-dependent, ranging from 17% for men between 50–59 years to 60% in the oldest men. The prevalence among women was lower. The great majority only had palmar changes without contracture of the digit. The prevalence was significantly lower among Bosnian Muslim men than among Bosnian Croat and Serbian men and significantly increased among diabetics. No association could be detected between Dupuytren's disease and smoking, alcohol consumption or living in rural or urban areas. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, contrary to previous opinion, Dupuytren's disease is common in Bosnia and Herzegovina

50 years experience with Dupuytren's contracture in the Erlangen University Hospital – A retrospective analysis of 2919 operated hands from 1956 to 2006

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a hand disorder mainly among the northern population. In contrast it is rare in the mediterranean population. Therefore typical habits and dietetic influences have been discussed as well as genetic predisposition. Still, since the first description by Dupuytren in 1834 only little is known about the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. Some hints were found for a higher prevalence among people with diabetes, alcohol abuse or smoking. Also, intensive manual work or hand injuries have been discussed to have an influence on DD. To our knowledge this is the largest retrospectively evaluated series of symptomatic patients published to date. The study includes patients from the last 50 years. It was performed to show possible correlations between DD and typical risk factors such as diabetes, alcohol consumption, and smoking.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively analysed all patient records with DD documented between 1956 and 2006 in the Surgical University Hospital in Erlangen. Data acquisition was conducted by reviewing the medical records from 1956 to 2006 including data from all patients who were surgically treated because of DD.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We reviewed 2579 male and 340 female surgically treated patients with DD. More than 80% of the patients were between 40 and 70 years old. In 28.9% only the right hand was effected by DD, in 25.3% only the left hand and in 45.8% both hands. In 10.3% of all Patients suffered from Diabetes mellitus. Statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between diabetes, alcoholism or smoking on the degree of DD in our patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most data are consistent with previously published results from smaller, comparable retrospective studies with regard to right- or left handedness. We could not confirm a statistically significant correlation of DD with diabetes mellitus, severe alcohol consumption, heavy smoking or epilepsy and the stage of the disease as described in other studies. However, in the whole cohort of our operated patients during the last 50 years the prevalence of the above mentioned risk factors is slightly higher than in the normal population.</p

Should we consider Dupuytren's contracture as work-related? A review and meta-analysis of an old debate

International audienceABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In view of the conflicting opinions published, a meta-analysis was undertaken on epidemiological studies in order to assess any association between Dupuytren's contracture and work exposure. METHODS: Using the key words: "occupational disease", "work" and "Dupuytren contracture" without limitation on language or year of publication, epidemiological studies were selected from four databases (Pub-Med, Embase, Web of science, BDSP) after two rounds (valid control group, valid work exposure). A quality assessment list was constructed and used to isolate papers with high quality methodological criteria (scores of 13 or above, HQMC). Relevant associations between manual work, vibration exposure (at work) and Dupuytren's contracture were extracted from the articles and a metarisk calculated using the generic variance approach (meta-odds ratios, meta-OR). RESULTS: From 1951 to 2007, 14 epidemiological studies (including 2 cohort studies, 3 case-control studies, and 9 cross-sectional studies/ population surveys) were included. Two different results could be extracted from five studies (based on different types of exposure), leading to 19 results, 12 for manual work (9 studies), and 7 for vibration exposure (5 studies). Six studies met the HQMC, yielding 9 results, 5 for manual work and 4 for vibration exposure. Five studies found a dose-response relationship. The meta-OR for manual work was 2.02[1.57;2.60] (HQMC studies only: 2.01[1.51;2.66]), and the meta-OR for vibration exposure was 2.88 [1.36;6.07] (HQMC studies only: 2.14[1.59;2.88]). CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis of an association between high levels of work exposure (manual work and vibration exposure) and Dupuytren's contracture in certain cases

Frequency of radiographic procedures in an urban 62-year-old population in relation to general health, body build, bone mineral content, locomotor discomfort, occupational work load and socio-economic factors

For 830 62-year-old residents of the city of Malmo records of radiographic examinations made over a period of 40 years at the Radiological Department of Malmo General Hospital and/or over 20-30 years at two private radiological departments in the city were reviewed. Radiographic examination had been undertaken in 92% of the residents, with on an average 16 examinations per resident. The most common examinations were of the chest in 63% of the residents followed by lower limb (58%) and spine (52%) examinations. In men the total number of radiographic examinations were negatively correlated to income, intelligence test results and social network and job satisfaction. Men with monotonous work and a more restricted latitude for decision-making at work, as well as men who were smokers had also had significantly more radiographic examinations. Single civil status and occupational work load had in men a positive correlation with the total number of radiographic examinations, as well as with serum levels of glutamyltransferase and uric acid levels. In women there was a negative correlation between radiographic examinations and teachers' rating of intelligence in childhood and bone mineral content, whereas job satisfaction, life success and triceps skinfold index (= subcutaneous fat tissue thickness) had a positive correlation with the total number of radiographic examinations. Women who took regular exercise (every week) had had significantly fewer radiographic examinations. Men and women with locomotor discomfort had a significantly higher consumption of not only musculoskeletal radiographic examinations but also other radiographic examinations

The articular cartilage after osteotomy for medial gonarthrosis. Biopsies after 2 years in 19 cases

In 19 consecutive patients with medial gonarthrosis, an arthroscopic examination with a biopsy of the load-bearing cartilage in the medial femoral condyle was undertaken at the same time as a proximal tibial osteotomy. A follow-up arthroscopic biopsy was performed on an average of 2 years after the osteotomy. In 9 knees there was an improvement in the cartilage quality, 8 knees were unchanged, whereas 2 knees had deteriorated. Radiographically, 6 knees had improved, 11 were unchanged and 2 had deteriorated. We found no correlation between cartilage improvement and the clinical and radiographic outcome. Our results confirm that an osteotomy has a beneficial effect on the load-bearing cartilage in the medial femoral condyle