contracture

American  

[kuhn-trak-cher] / kənˈtræk tʃər /

noun

Pathology.

1. a shortening or distortion of muscular or connective tissue due to spasm, scar, or paralysis of the antagonist of the contracting muscle.

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contracture British  

/ kənˈtræktʃə /

noun

1. a disorder in which a skeletal muscle is permanently tightened (contracted), most often caused by spasm or paralysis of the antagonist muscle that maintains normal muscle tension

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Other Word Forms

• contractured adjective

Etymology

Origin of contracture

1650–60; < Latin contractūra, equivalent to contract ( us ) drawn together (past participle of contrahere; see contract) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

Mustaine saw a specialist and was diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture, a progressive condition that affects about 8% of the world’s population, according to National Institutes of Health statistics.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

The condition, called Dupuytren's contracture, is a genetic disorder that causes a person's fingers to bend towards their palm.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

How on earth did obscure medical conditions like Dupuytren’s contracture get into the books?

From Seattle Times • Dec. 2, 2021

Marra’s sister died in November after a life spent battling rheumatoid arthritis, and Marra has a physical deformity of his own to deal with: Dupuytren’s contracture, which has left some of his fingers contorted.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2016

Further changes may take place, and result in the transformation of the muscle into fibrous tissue, which by undergoing shortening may cause deformity known as paralytic contracture.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis