Reconstructive surgery in upper limbs in leprosy.

Abstract

Of all the deformities in leprosy, 80% require minor surgery and the rest major surgery. Upper and lower limbs and face are mainly affected by deformities. Either the median or ulnar nerve and rarely the radial nerve are involved in isolation or in combination. Tendon transfer is the only option available in cases of deformities like simian hand, ulnar claw hand, wrist drop and failure to the metacarpals. The only motor function to be restored in median nerve palsy is opponensplasty. For radial nerve palsy standard FCU transfer, FDS transfer and FCR transfer are the reconstructive methods. For ulnar nerve palsy, an intrinsic minus hand function is restored by the motors PL, ECRL, FDS, EIP or EDM extended by four tail fascia lata graft onto lateral or ulnar bands of fingers. When ulnar nerve is part of much more extensive paralysis, reducing the availability of suitable motors, static mathods of conection of claw hand are done.