Senate Resolution No. 1336

BY: Senator RANZENHOFER

RECOGNIZING April 1, 2017, as Dupuytren's
Contracture Awareness Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing days
of awareness of important medical conditions, in the hopes of increasing
education, treatment and cure; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
Saturday, April 1, 2017, as Dupuytren's Contracture Awareness Day in the
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Dupuytren's contracture is a flexion contracture of the
hand due to a palmar fibromatosis, in which the fingers bend towards the
palm and cannot be fully extended; it is an inherited proliferative
connective tissue disorder which involves the hand's palmar fascia; it
is named after Baron Guillaume Dupuytren, the surgeon who described an
operation to correct the affliction; and

WHEREAS, Dupuytren's contracture is treated with procedures to help
straighten the fingers, but this does not cure the underlying disease;
contractures often return or involve other fingers; and

WHEREAS, According to one study, the ring finger is the finger most
commonly affected, followed by the middle and little fingers; the thumb
and index finger are only rarely affected; Dupuytren's contracture
progresses slowly and is often accompanied by some aching and itching;
in patients with this condition, the palmar fascia (palmar aponeurosis)
thickens and shortens so that the tendons connected to the fingers
cannot move freely, and the palmar fascia becomes hyperplastic and
contracts; and

WHEREAS, Dupuytren's contracture is a non-specific affliction, but
primarily affects men rather than women, alcoholics, smokers, and people
who are thinner, of Scandinavian or Northern European ancestry, over the
age of 50, or have had a previous hand injury; and

WHEREAS, The disease also affects those who have a higher than
average fasting blood glucose level, a family history, Ledderhose
disease, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, and HIV; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
tireless advocates and healthcare providers who spend so much of their
time and resources battling this painful and destructive disease that
affects so many; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize April 1, 2017, as Dupuytren's Contracture Awareness Day in the
State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dawn Werner.