Abstract
The number and variety of different classifications that have been proposed for assessing the severity of Dupuytren’s disease (DD) and for evaluating the results of surgery for DD indicate that there is no single perfect tool for assessing this disease. Despite the multiplicity of these scales, there is no consensus on the best method of grading the severity of this disease and on the most accurate outcome measure after treatment. This review article presents scales for assessing the severity and outcomes of surgery for DD based on the current literature. Several different classifications are presented, such as assessment of the degree of contracture, assessment of hand function, histologic evaluation, and so-called “complex scales”. Each of these classifications has its advantages, but each also has weaknesses. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of these instruments. Of all the scales and outcome measures reviewed in this article, these so-called “patient-oriented outcome measures” probably best reflect patients’ perceptions of their outcomes after treatment. Therefore, these instruments seem to be more accurate and effective than other outcome measures in assessing the severity of DD and evaluating the results of treatment. However, the selection of the ideal outcome measure remains a task for future research.