Watson Clinic hand surgeons Ann L. Licht, MD, FACS and Anne M. Meo, DO, are the first hand specialists in the area to perform a revolutionary new non-invasive treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture, a degenerative condition that frequently causes one or more fingers to permanently contract as the result of a progressive thickening of tissue in the palm.  People with this condition have difficulty straightening their fingers, and struggle to perform simple daily tasks such as turning door knobs or holding a hair brush or pen.

XIAFLEX™, the first FDA-approved non-surgical treatment for the disorder, is an injectable mixture of proteins that significantly reverse the effects of Dupuytren’s contracture when applied directly to the affected cord that causes the fingers to bend.

“The injections work by breaking down the collagen that has built up and disabled the Dupuytren’s cord in the palm of the hand,” says Dr. Licht. “This is the only non-surgical treatment that has shown considerable results in straightening the affected fingers, and restoring range of motion and function in the patient’s hand.”

Dupuytren’s disease is known to affect the layer of tissue just under the skin in the palm of the hand.  As this disease progresses, the tissue thickens due to excess collagen build up. This leads to physical changes in the palm – beginning with nodules and dimples in the palm of the hand, and progressing to rope-like cords that pull the fingers toward the palm, making it difficult to straighten fingers to their full extension.

 There is no cure for Dupuytren’s disease; however, surgery has been the recommended course of treatment for the disease.  XIAFLEX™ is the only FDA-approved, non-surgical choice for treatment of adults with Dupuytren’s disease.  “Since XIAFLEX is administered through simple injections, the treatment is often preferable for the patient over traditional surgical methods, which often require large incisions and an extended period of physical therapy,” says Dr. Meo.

Dr. Licht received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.  She completed her general surgery residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, where she also served as chief resident.  She then completed a fellowship in hand surgery and microsurgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Licht is board-certified in both general surgery and hand surgery.

Dr. Meo received her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine/New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, NY. She completed her osteopathic internship and was the chief intern at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Stratford, NJ. Her residency in orthopaedic surgery was completed at the Peninsula Hospital/Northshore LIJ Consortium in New York, where she also served as the chief resident.  She completed a fellowship in hand surgery at the State University of New York in Stony Brook.  Dr. Meo is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopaedics, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.  Dr. Meo is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery.

Watson Clinic’s orthopaedic department is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the area, featuring an expert staff of physicians and the most advanced technologies available in the field.  To schedule an appointment with Watson Clinic’s hand surgeons, please call 863-680-7214.