Enthesopathy in leprosy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with leprosy have enthesopathy at the calcaneus of plantar fascia.

METHODS: In a radiographic study of over 3 years, we investigated the presence and location of enthesophytes in patients with leprosy compared to healthy age and sex matched controls with no evidence of bone or joint disease.

RESULTS: Calcaneus enthesopathy occurred significantly more frequently in patients with leprosy than in controls, but no difference in the location of enthesophytes was found between the 2 groups. Calcaneus spurs were detected more frequently in lepromatous patients than in tuberculoid patients.

CONCLUSION: Enthesitis is a manifestation of leprosy and may be more common in lepromatous than in tuberculoid patients.