02094nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653002300051653003700074653002100111653003100132653001100163653002000174653003100194653001100225653003300236653001900269653002300288653001200311653002500323653001300348653002200361653001700383653001700400653001200417653001400429100001400443245007100457300001100528490000600539520117300545022001401718       1995                            d  c199510aAttitude to Health10aDemocratic Republic of the Congo10aDisabled Persons10aFoot Deformities, Acquired10aFrance10aGeneral Surgery10aHand Deformities, Acquired10aHumans10aInterinstitutional Relations10aLeper Colonies10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aOccupational Therapy10aPolitics10aSocial Conditions10aSurgicenters10aUniversities10aWarfare10aWorkforce1 aVulliet F00a[Vicissitudes of treating leprosy handicaps in Kapolowé, Zaïre].  a179-820 v93 a<p>In 1990 Kapolowé was, without a doubt, the site of the only surgical centre in Zaire dealing with handicaps which developed in as an after-effect of leprosy. It would be useful to explain the hazards involved in such a venture for reasons which do not pertain to medicine but, rather, to particularly trying socio-political circumstances. The best surgical expertise was thrown out for political reasons. Insecurity and economic hardships practically halted movement and, consequently, the wider application of such expertise. During a mission in 1994, there was a partial resumption of activities. The surgical team was reinstalled and made operational. It had been possible to state that multidrug therapy (MDT) had always ensured that the disabled leprosy patients, living in groups, and treated before 1990 under regular supervision, did not experience serious relapses. That fact corroborates earlier information relating particularly to surgical decompression. Although most of them were able to resume a certain measure of professional activity, social factors must still be borne in mind and the concept of partial permanent disability must be applied.</p>  a0001-5938