Adverse events after adjuvant radiation therapy for Dupuytren’s disease in the DEPART randomized trial

This study reports adverse events after adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with Dupuytren’s disease. Patients for planned limited fasciectomy, collagenase injection or percutaneous needle fasciotomy were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients were randomized to observation or radiotherapy (30 Gy, 10 fractions) starting within 4 days of the procedure. During a follow-up period of up to 4 years, 114 adverse events were reported. Of 102 (89%) mild adverse events, 45 (44.1%) were attributed to radiotherapy. Of the 12 moderate to severe, three were attributed to radiotherapy. By 6 months, most moderate to severe adverse events had resolved. Between 12 and 36 month follow-ups, the only persistent adverse event attributed to radiotherapy was reduced sweating. In this trial of adjuvant radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s disease, adverse events are generally mild and self-limiting, suggesting that adjuvant radiotherapy is well tolerated.

Level of evidence: Level 2, individual RCT