Dupuytren's disease has a high rate of recurrence after treatment. In this study we have assessed the usefulness of histological staging in the prediction of recurrence. We have also verified whether there is a correlation between histological staging and features of Dupuytren's diathesis. We studied 139 hands in 124 Caucasian patients treated between 1997 and 2004. There was a significant difference in the recurrence rate between the three histological types (P = 0.04). Histological staging was independent of features of Dupuytren's diathesis. This study confirms that histological staging is a reliable method for predicting recurrence. However, it should be used in association with clinical data to determine precisely the prognosis of patients suffering from Dupuytren's contracture.