A 45-year-old woman presents with progressive flexion contracture of the ring and little fingers over 2 years. On examination, palpable cords are felt in the palm with thickened fascia over the ulnar aspect of the hand. The underlying pathological tissue in this condition is:

• A Flexor tendon sheath
• B Pretendinous band of the palmar fascia ✓
• C Palmar aponeurosis
• D A1 pulley

Explanation

Dupuytren contracture involves proliferation and contracture of the palmar fascia, specifically the pretendinous bands, which leads to progressive MCP and PIP flexion contractures. The disease starts in the pretendinous cord, not the flexor tendon sheath or A1 pulley (which is stenosing tenosynovitis).

Reference: Green's Operative Hand Surgery, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.