The Vikings and Baron Dupuytren's disease

Adrian E. Flatt, MD

From the George Truett James Orthopaedics Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Corresponding author: Adrian E. Flatt, MD, George Truett James Orthopaedics Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246.

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is an ancient affliction of unknown origin. It is defined by Dorland as shortening, thickening, and fibrosis of the palmar fascia producing a flexion deformity of a finger. Tradition has it that the disease originated with the Vikings, who spread it throughout Northern Europe and beyond as they traveled and intermarried. After being present for hundreds of years, DD was named in the 19th century after a famous French surgeon, who was not the first to describe it. This article reviews the history of DD and describes its incidence, clinical manifestations, and treatment. (BUMC Proceedings 2001;14:378-384)