Hand atrophy in a leprosy patient – treatment with
polymethylmethacrylate
polymethylmethacrylate
Introduction
Atrophy of the metacarpals muscles of the hand is a common finding in patients who have acquired paralysis of the median and ulnar nerves as a result of leprosy infection.
This deformity is unsightly and contributes to the strong stigma till associated with the disease, particularly in countries where the disease is still endemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Brazil is among the most endemic countries for leprosy in the world, with 34 296 new cases of the disease in 2008.
We report a Brazilian patient with atrophy of the metacarpal muscles of both hands caused by tuberculoid leprosy in which the deformity was successfully treated with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) injection.
Link to read the full article: http://www.leprahealthinaction.org/lr/Sept10/1578.pdf
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