Surgery Alternative Helps Crippling Hand Disease
4 Million People Suffer From Disease
POSTED: Wednesday, February 18, 2004
UPDATED: 10:44 pm EST March 7,
2005
An alternative surgery being performed by only one doctor in the United States can help people suffering from a crippling hand disease, according to a Local 6 News report.
The Local 6 News report featured Win Holfeld, who was slowly losing the use of his hands as one of 4 million people in the United States suffering from Dupuytren's Contracture. 
The disease causes the second layer of skin, facia, to shrink like scar tissue, forming cables that slowly pull the ring and pinky fingers toward the palm.In many cases, it wraps around the knuckles chocking them like a weed, according to the report.Specialists told Holfeld that the only way to straighten his fingers could mean the loss of a finger. The blood supply could be so constricted if it is straightened that it would die and they'd have to amputate, Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld reported.Win Holfeld is Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld's father.Holfeld found out that the only doctor in America performing a procedure to help patients with the disease is just three hours away from Orlando.Dr. Charles Eaton of Jupiter Hospital is one of the regions top hand surgeons and learned of a medical alternative needle aponeurotomy procedure from a patient.Eaton flew to Paris to train with Dr. Jean Luc Lemarseau, a rheumatologist, to learn to treat Dupuytren's contracture patients."He developed this procedure about 30 years ago and has treated thousands tens of thousands of patients with this," Eaton said.Eaton used a needle to break up the cords restricting Holfeld's fingers.Holfeld was one of the first patients to have the procedure performed in the United States and instead of amputation, he has full use of his hand.If you want more information about the procedure, call (561) 746-2598.
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Surgery Alternative Helps Hand DiseaseThe disease causes the second layer of skin, facia, to shrink like scar tissue, forming cables that slowly pull the ring and pinky fingers toward the palm.In many cases, it wraps around the knuckles chocking them like a weed, according to the report.Specialists told Holfeld that the only way to straighten his fingers could mean the loss of a finger. The blood supply could be so constricted if it is straightened that it would die and they'd have to amputate, Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld reported.Win Holfeld is Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld's father.Holfeld found out that the only doctor in America performing a procedure to help patients with the disease is just three hours away from Orlando.Dr. Charles Eaton of Jupiter Hospital is one of the regions top hand surgeons and learned of a medical alternative needle aponeurotomy procedure from a patient.Eaton flew to Paris to train with Dr. Jean Luc Lemarseau, a rheumatologist, to learn to treat Dupuytren's contracture patients."He developed this procedure about 30 years ago and has treated thousands tens of thousands of patients with this," Eaton said.Eaton used a needle to break up the cords restricting Holfeld's fingers.Holfeld was one of the first patients to have the procedure performed in the United States and instead of amputation, he has full use of his hand.If you want more information about the procedure, call (561) 746-2598. Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
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