Surgical Treatment of Foot Ulcer in Hansen's Disease

Damages to the sensory, autonomic and motor nerves in leprosy patients are followed by anesthesia, dryness of the skin and muscular paralysis. Most plantar ulcers in leprosy patients are caused by repetitive moderate stress. Minor injuries such as bruising sustained as a result of the misuse of anesthetic limbs may lead to ulceration, scar formation and secondary infection. Cellulitis develops and destroys subcutaneous tissue, resulting in an infection which can reach the bone. As a result of osteomyelitis, bone is absorbed, sequestra are extruded and the architecture of the foot is destructed. The most common sites of the plantar ulceration are over the metatarsal heads, the base of the fifth metatarsal, the base of the proximal phalanx, and the calcaneus. During the past 9 years, we treated 85 patients with ulcers located on the sole and the dorsum of the foot, and lower third of the leg. To prevent osteomyelitis and amputation of the lower leg, we performed various treatment modalities such as free and pedicle flaps, skin grafts, and mechanical stretching devices of the skin (e.g., Sure Closure, Proxiderm, etc), as well as consistent vacuum-assisted closure. We obtained satisfactory results in most cases. We report detailed results and related references.