02776nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260005500042653001600097653002600113653002100139653002000160653002300180653003800203653001200241100001300253700001200266700001600278245011400294856010400408300001000512520198700522022002502509       2026                            d  c05/2026bOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)10aUlnar nerve10aPeripheral neuropathy10aNerve thickening10aUltrasonography10aHansen’s disease10ahigh‑resolution ultrasonography10aleprosy1 aNikhil K1 aPatil S1 aJanagond AB00aRole of High-resolution Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Ulnar Nerve Involvement in Patients with Leprosy  uhttps://journals.lww.com/aoam/abstract/9900/role_of_high_resolution_ultrasonography_in_the.825.aspx  a1 - 53 a<p><strong>Background:</strong></p>

<p>Leprosy remains an important cause of peripheral neuropathy in endemic regions, with nerve involvement being the major determinant of long-term disability. The ulnar nerve is commonly affected. Conventional clinical assessment has limited ability to objectively quantify nerve damage. High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) enables structural evaluation of peripheral nerves in a non-invasive manner.</p>

<p><strong>Objective:</strong></p>

<p>The objective of the study was to assess ulnar nerve involvement using HRUS in patients with leprosy and to compare ultrasonographic findings with clinical examination.</p>

<p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong></p>

<p>This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center from March 2024 to August 2025 and included 49 clinically diagnosed leprosy patients. All patients underwent clinical examination and HRUS of the ulnar nerve using a 12–18 MHz linear transducer. Cross-sectional area (CSA), fascicular pattern, echogenicity, and intraneural vascularity on power Doppler were evaluated.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>

<p>The mean age was 43.86 ± 15.20 years, with male predominance (65.3%). Borderline tuberculoid (30.6%) and borderline lepromatous (26.5%) types were most frequent. HRUS detected ulnar nerve thickening in 89.8% of patients compared with 77.6% by clinical examination. Mean CSA was 11.90 ± 4.58 mm 2 . Loss of fascicular pattern was seen in 63.3%, altered echogenicity in 87.8%, and increased intraneural vascularity in 57.1%. HRUS showed sensitivity 93.6%, specificity 50.0%, positive predictive value 97.8%, negative predictive value 25.0%, and overall accuracy 91.8% for detecting ulnar nerve involvement.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>

<p>HRUS is a useful, noninvasive adjunct for objective detection and characterization of ulnar nerve involvement in leprosy and complements clinical assessment.</p>
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