Honor Dupuytren's Awareness Day

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.