Palmar skin elasticity measured by the Cutometer MPA 580 is decreased in mild Dupuytren’s disease compared to healthy controls

Abstract

Introduction Involvement of the palmar skin is often seen in patients with Dupuytren’s disease (DD) with severe finger contractures. However, skin elasticity may be already decreased earlier in the disease. The Cutometer MPA 580 could provide an objective skin measurement tool to assess this decrease in elasticity. Linking objective skin measurements to functional outcome measures could lead to better prediction of disease progression. We set up a study to investigate if the Cutometer was able to detect differences in skin elasticity between patients with mild Dupuytren’s disease and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional analytical study was performed. Three assessors measured skin elasticity (palmar hand) on two sites using the Cutometer on 30 patients with mild DD and 30 healthy controls. Student’s t-test was used to evaluate differences in skin elasticity and a linear model to evaluate interactions between the groups and sites. Results Significant differences in skin elasticity were found between DD patients and controls, as well as differences based on the location examined. Discussion Similar to other skin conditions, the Cutometer MPA 580 was able to demonstrate a significant lower elasticity in the palmar skin in DD patients compared to healthy controls. A decrease in skin elasticity in different locations of the hand correlated with areas that often pose problems in the treatment of more severe DD. The Cutometer could potentially be a tool to identify these areas earlier in the disease.