Surgeons have a reputation for saving lives in emergency situations, but 80% of surgeries are planned. The public often think that medical conditions run linearly from symptoms to scans to diagnosis to treatment and recovery, which is not always true. Approximately 12-14% of patients experience complications or regret after surgery. Some complications are predictable or can be avoided with better patient preparation and teamwork. Dupuytren's disease serves as an example of the importance of shared decision-making for the best outcomes. More than a quarter of cases on NHS waiting lists for hand surgery are related to the condition, which causes lumps and striations on the palm and fingers leading to their contraction. The disease is painless, non-cancerous, but can affect hand function and affects around 20% of elderly people in Northern Europe.