Backward logistic regression analysis of the determinants of the hand function among patients with leprosy: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The hands are the most common site of disability in leprosy. Hand dysfunction could result in difficulty performing activities of daily living. Therefore, hand function should be regularly assessed to ensure that any decrease in hand function could be diagnosed earlier. Methods: This study included 110 patients with leprosy from Likupang and Lembata, Indonesia. Hand function was assessed using the modified Jebsen test to measure hand function respective of the dominance. The grip and pinch strength were used as objective measures of clinical arm function. The World Health Organization (WHO) hand disability grade were used to determine the degree of impairment. Other factors such as age, sex and the type of leprosy were also considered. All factors were analysed using backward logistic regression. Results: Among the 110 participants, a decrease in the dominant (48.2%) and non-dominant (50.9%) hand functions were found. Pinch strength (OR: 3.39; 95% CI: 1.13-10.19) and age (OR: 4.91; 95% CI: 1.72-14.03) were significantly associated with hand function irrespective of the dominance. Conversely, the WHO hand disability grade (OR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.10-8.04) and type of leprosy (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.97) were significantly associated with only function of the dominant hand. Conclusion: There is a significant association of age and pinch strength with hand function regardless of the hand dominance. In contrast, the WHO hand disability grade and type of leprosy are significantly associated with the function of the dominant hand only.

History and Metamorphosis of Hand Surgery India.

The advent of hand surgery in India reads like a fortuitous saga, a continuum of the hand deformity correction on leprosy patients pioneered by Dr. Paul Wilson Brand at the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, Madras State (Tamil Nadu [TN]), in 1948. The "Hand Research Unit," established in 1951, became the largest repository for hand reconstructive surgeries and with its head-start drew in most hand dysfunctions in the country. Early industrialization and disorderly road traffic generated hand injuries that threatened workforce in India. Propitiously, a hand injury service was opened in 1971 at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Chennai. The inexorable growth of hand surgery continued and incorporated the gamut of conditions that required hand care and rehabilitation, including brachial plexus injuries. Continuing Medical Education programs, Hand Surgery workshops, Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand meetings, Hand Fellowships, etc., increased the number of "hand surgery" practitioners, which drew the attention of the Medical Council of India to commence a postgraduate Hand Surgery program that it eventually gazetted. The sagacity of the members of the Board of Studies of TN Medical University honored the historical role of CMC Vellore in hand surgery and allowed it to commence the first Master of Chirurgiae Hand Surgery course in India in 2015. An intuitive understanding of 70 years of hand surgery accomplishments that redesigned and restored deformed and injured hands and protected livelihoods have made young surgeons increasingly take hand surgery as a career.

Qualitative analysis of nailfold capillaries in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy using dermatoscope in patients with coloured skin.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to vascular complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes. Videocapillaroscope has been the predominant tool for nailfold capillary analysis. We aimed at using the commonly available handheld dermatoscope and observe changes in the nailfold capillaries as a part of evaluating diabetic microvascular involvement. Materials and methods A cross-sectional observational study involving 262 patients of diabetes mellitus and 150 controls was conducted for nailfold capillaroscopic changes using a hand-held dermatoscope over a period of 1 year. Results All the capillaroscopic variables like tortuosity, increased capillary density, neoangiogenesis, microhaemorrhages, avascular areas, crossing and meandering capillaries and receding capillaries were significantly more among diabetic than healthy controls. Patients with diabetic retinopathy had significant nailfold capillaroscopic features as compared to patients without DR (P value < 0.001). Neoangiogenesis, receding capillaries and avascular area were significantly higher in proliferative DR as against nonproliferative DR (P < 0.001). A positive association was found between the duration of DM and HbA1c values and NFC features. A decrease in the visualisation of NFC features was noted with increasing skin tone. The difference was significantly more between Fitzpatrick skin phototypes 4 and 5. Limitations The study was limited by its qualitative nature of accessing parameters as precise quantitative assessment of various findings cannot be done by a hand-held dermatoscope. Conclusion Nailfold capillaroscopy is a quick, cost-effective screening tool for identifying patients at high risk of DR in patients with skin of colour. NFC findings may mirror DR changes. The qualitative findings of NFC using a hand-held dermatoscope were comparable to other modes of nailfold capillaroscopy.

Small Finger Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Chronic Arthritis Secondary to Leprosy: A Case Report.

Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a multisystem, chronic infectious disease that still exists. It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Musculoskeletal features are non-consistent and can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. We report the case of a 23-year-old male with the right small finger (RSF) proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthropathy related to leprosy. This was his first encounter with seeking medical advice regarding his condition. The patient was diagnosed and treated with surgical debridement, volar plate arthroplasty for the affected proximal interphalangeal joint, and the recommended multi-drug therapy regimen. The pathological effects of leprosy on the bones and joints have been attributed to several theories, with peripheral nerve neuropathy being the primary cause. Early detection of leprosy is crucial for effective management, preventing further disease transmission, and minimizing the risk of developing complications.

Angiotropic melanocytes: Possibly a distinctive finding in extra-facial acquired dermal melanocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Acquired dermal melanocytosis is a heterogenous group of hyperpigmented lesioins which predominantly involve the face. AIM: The aim of this study was to study the clinical presentation and histopathology of cases with extra-facial acquired dermal melanocytosis. METHODS: Retrospective record analysis was performed between May 2016 to August 2019 to retrieve cases of extra-facial acquired dermal melanocytosis seen at the out-patient department of dermatology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur. Consecutive cases with histopathologically proven diagnosis of acquired dermal melanocytosis were included. Documentation of variation in clinical presentation and histopathologic findings was done in light of the existing literature. RESULTS: Overall, four cases of extra-facial acquired dermal melanocyosis (female:male = 1:3) were seen during the study period. The lone case on head and neck involved the ear lobule and peri-auricular area. The other three cases had involvement of the hand. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of dermal melanocytosis but revealed peculiar findings of angiotropic melanocytes and dilated capillaries. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and lack of comparison with perilesional normal skin were the limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: The findings of angiotropic melanocytes may be unique to extra-facial acquired dermal melanocytosis. This might indicate interaction between dermal melanocytes and capillary endothelial cells. This finding along with dermal capillary ectasia may indicate a possible role for vascular lasers in the management of these disorders.

Reconstructive surgery for sequellae of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer) of the upper limb.

INTRODUCTION: Infection by Mycobacterium ulcerans constitutes a neglected tropical disease whose prevalence seems to have overrun those of cutaneous tuberculosis and leprosy. Its aggressivity depends on a mycolactone toxin. Lesions may involve skin, tendon and bone with a large spectrum of manifestations: non-ulcerative (papules, nodules, plaques), ulcerative and oedematous presentations as well as osteomyelitis with muscular contraction and ankylosis. Upper limbs account for more than two thirds of the infection sites. Surgical treatment may involve tendon transpositions, partial and total skin grafts. Amputation is relegated to extreme cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Selected iconography from patients during the last 15 years is presented. At least 1500 cases had partial skin grafts (anterior thigh). Total skin grafts (inguinal region) were used in about 200 cases. Complex lesions involved 9 ilioinguinal flaps (5 boys, 4 girls, mean age 11.2 years, range 2-16 years), 5 tendon transfers (4 boys, one girl, mean age 15.4 years, range 12-19 years) and 3 resections of the first carpal row (2 girls, 1 boy, mean age 8 years, range 4-15 years). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Out of 9 ilioinguinal flaps mild, marginal necrosis was the only complication in 2 patients without flap loss. Mean hospital stay was 26.44 days (range, 18-41 days), with return to full weight-bearing after a mean of 12 weeks (range 9-25 weeks) after discharge. Functional thumb opposition to allow pencil prehension was achieved in all three cases of resection of first carpal row resection without postoperative complications.

Hand Surgery in Malaysia.

We have all heard the old aphorism, "Necessity is the mother of invention." While the provenance of the proverb is uncertain, its truth is not in doubt. This is true for the development of hand surgery in Malaysia. As part of the management for leprosy, patients with high ulnar nerve palsies were managed by the pioneers of hand surgery in Malaysia. They did tendon transfers to improve the quality of life of these patients. Since then, hand surgery in Malaysia have grown leaps and bounds. From a small humble beginning in the suburb of Sungai Buloh to organizing the 10th Congress of Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, hand surgery in Malaysia will only get better with time.

Mycobacterial Infections in the Hand and Wrist.

Mycobacterial hand infections are uncommon. These infections have an indolent course and are marked by variable and nonspecific presentations, often leading to diagnostic and treatment delays. The pathogens involved in mycobacterial hand infections include Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, atypical mycobacteria, and M leprae. Initial treatment involves a combination of long-term antibiotics and surgical débridement to cure the infection. Reconstructive procedures aid in restoring hand function lost secondary to the disease.

A cross-sectional study to analyze the clinical subtype, contact sensitization and impact of disease severity on quality of life and cost of illness in patients of hand eczema.

BACKGROUND: The high incidence, chronicity, frequent recurrences and severity of hand eczema leads to a massive impact on the quality of life. Despite great medical and socioeconomic importance, there is a paucity of data that addresses the cost of illness and economic factors associated with hand eczema. Most of the studies have originated from Europe and none have been reported from India. AIM: To analyze the clinical subtype, the pattern of contact sensitization and the impact of severity of disease on the quality of life and cost of illness in patients of hand eczema. METHODS: Hundred patients of hand eczema were recruited and evaluated for morphological patterns of the condition, hand eczema severity index and quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire). All patients were subjected to patch tests with Indian standard series, cosmetic series and personal or work-related products. The economic burden of hand eczema was measured by both its direct and indirect costs. RESULTS: Morphologically, chronic dry fissured eczema 36 (36%) was the most common pattern followed by mixed type 19 (19%), hyperkeratotic palmar eczema 15 (15%), vesicular eczema with recurrent eruption 9 (9%), nummular eczema 7 (7%) and wear and tear dermatitis 7 (7%). Seventy nine patients gave positive patch test results. Etiological profile of the most common allergens, as established with a patch test, include potassium dichromate 18 (18%) followed by cetrimonium bromide 17 (17%), nickel 16 (16%), gallate 14 (14%), garlic 9 (9%) and patient's own product 8 (8%). Allergic contact dermatitis was the most common clinical pattern of hand eczema seen in 45 (45%) patients, followed by an irritant 14 (14%) and a combination of both 13 (13%). The average total cost of illness was INR 13,783.41 (0-93,000) per individual per year with an average direct cost of INR 2,746.25 ± 1,900 and indirect cost of INR 4911.73 ± 13237.72, along with a positive correlation with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (P = 0.00). The hand eczema severity index was marginally correlated with direct costs (P = 0.07) and highly correlated with indirect costs (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Hand eczema has a huge impact on the quality of life and economic consequences. LIMITATIONS: In our study, parameters like Dermatology Life Quality Index and hand eczema severity index could have been affected by the chronicity of disease as being a tertiary referral centre, most of the recruited patients had severe and persistent hand eczema at the time of visit. Also, cost of illness was based on retrospective calculations on recall basis.

Modified Total Intrinsic Rehabilitation Procedure for Ulnar Palsy.

Tendon transfer for ulnar palsy has been an area of interest for many a stalwart in hand surgery, especially in southeast Asian countries, mainly because of the prevalence of Hansen's disease in these countries. Although the procedures look standardized, there are still many lacunae. Here in this article, we discuss about a surgical technique by which all the motor disabilities evolving due to ulnar nerve paralysis are addressed with three sets of tendon transfers performed in a single stage for: (1) key pinch restoration, (2) claw correction and adduction of fingers, and (3) claw correction and abduction of fingers.

Wide Awake Tendon Transfers in Leprosy Patients in India.

Dr Akbar Khan began using the wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique for leprosy tendon transfers in the summer of 2015 at the Damien Foundation Hospital in Nellore, India. This article summarizes his first 18 months of experience and describes 5 of his operations. He found that WALANT provides effective anesthesia with good visibility for leprosy tendon transfers. WALANT permits economically disadvantaged leprosy patients to afford the surgery. All of the leprosy patients who have undergone WALANT tendon transfers in this series would like the same technique for their next tendon transfers.

Association between the Rosén and Lundborg Score and the Screening Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness scale in hand functional evaluation of patients with leprosy diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of results from the Rosén and Lundborg Score and the screening activity limitation and Safety Awareness scale for the assessment of hand in patients diagnosed with leprosy. METHOD: An association between the Rosén and Lundborg Score and the Screening Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness scale for hand was evaluated in a cross-section study with 25 people of a mean age of 51 years old (SD 14), undergoing drug treatment for leprosy. RESULTS: The mean quantitative score in the Screening Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness scale was 27.9 (SD 10.5). Rosén and Lundborg Score for the median nerve were 2.43 (SD 0.38) on the right hand and 2.41 (SD 0.54) on the left hand whilst for the ulnar nerve, the scores observed were 2.33 (SD 0.42) for the right hand and 2.31 (SD 0.61) for the left hand. Significant correlations between the two instruments in assessment of the median and ulnar nerves on both hands were found. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the association found between the scales, the Rosén and Lundborg Score may be used in assessment of the hand in patients diagnosed with leprosy, as a tool to assist the result evaluation after the drug treatment, surgical treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up in the hand dysfunction in leprosy. Implications for Rehabilitation The leprosy inflammatory neuropathy may cause limitations and disabilities related to hand functions of patients. Instruments with quantitative scores provide a reliable basis for therapeutic intervention prognosis. New evaluation methods promote a better monitoring of treatment and hand function evolution of people with leprosy.

Lessons From Leprosy: Peripheral Neuropathies and Deformities in Chronic Demyelinating Diseases.

In light of the World Health Organization's push to accelerate progress toward a leprosy-free world by 2020, it is fitting to look back on the evolution of progress in treating lepromatous neuropathy and limb deformities. To date, no surgeon has had as great an impact on the understanding and treatment of this disease as Dr Paul Brand. Before Dr Brand's accomplishments, few surgeons participated in the management of the deformed leprous patient. By challenging conventional beliefs, Dr Brand revealed that many of the deformities associated with leprosy were in fact caused by nerve damage and subsequent limb anesthesia. His pioneering work centered on tendon transfers to provide hand and foot mobility to leprous patients, revolutionizing the surgical management of this patient population and restoring functionality to the lives of otherwise stigmatized and functionally handicapped individuals. In the process, he provided us with the surgical principles and techniques that we still apply today. Because of its predilection for the peripheral nervous system, leprosy also provides an excellent opportunity to investigate mechanisms of demyelination and chronic nerve degeneration in nonacute peripheral neuropathies. Processes underlying demyelination of infectious, traumatic, and genetic etiologies overlap and precede the onset of acute neuronal derangement. Glial pathology has been shown to be a common pathological element in leprosy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth type I, multiple sclerosis, and chronic nerve compression injury. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of lepromatous neuropathy with its subsequent deformities as it relates to the pathophysiology, surgical management, and potential therapeutic targets of other modern peripheral neuropathies.

Swan Neck Deformity Mimicking Claw Hand Caused by Arthritis in Leprosy.

Swan neck deformity is a hyperextension of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Claw hand is a hyperextension of the metacarpal joints and flexion of the PIP joints, accompanied by reduced motor strength. A 23-year-old female, who was released from leprosy treatment, presented with a bend of the second to fifth fingers of both hands. There was hyperextension of the PIP joints and flexion of the DIP joints from the second to fifth fingers of both hands, thickening of the ulnar nerves, and hypoesthesia without motor impairment of the fourth and fifth fingers of both hands. Radiograph examination revealed cupping of the base of the proximal phalangeal joints of the second, third, and fifth fingers of the left hand and of the second and fifth fingers of the right hand. Additionally, narrowing of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the second, third, and fifth fingers of the right hand and sclerosis of the second and fifth fingers of the right hand were also observed. Claw hand is frequently reported in leprosy, while swan neck deformity is frequently reported in rheumatoid arthritis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case with swan neck deformity caused by arthritis in leprosy.

Thermographic analysis and autonomic response in the hands of patients with leprosy

Abstract: Background: Low temperatures and slow blood flow may result from peripheral neuropathy caused by leprosy, and the simple detection of cold fingers could already be a preliminary classification for these patients. Objective: To investigate whether infrared thermography would be able to measure this change in temperature in the hands of people with leprosy. Method: The study assessed 17 leprosy patients who were under treatment at the National Reference Center for Sanitary Dermatology and Leprosy, Uberlândia/MG, and 15 people without leprosy for the control group. The infrared camera FLIR A325 and Therma CAM Researcher Professional 2.9 software were used to measure the temperature. The room was air-conditioned, maintaining the temperature at 25°C; the distance between the camera and the limb was 70 cm. The vasomotor reflex of patients was tested by a cold stress on the palm. Results: The study showed a significant interaction between the clinical form of leprosy and temperature, where the control group and the borderline-borderline form revealed a higher initial temperature, while borderline-lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy showed a lower temperature. Regarding vasomotor reflex, lepromatous leprosy patients were unable to recover the initial temperature after cold stress, while those with the borderline-tuberculoid form not only recovered but exceeded the initial temperature. Conclusion: Thermography proved a potential tool to assist in the early detection of neuropathies, helping in the prevention of major nerve damage and the installation of deformities and disabilities that are characteristic of leprosy.

Chronic hand infections.

Chronic infections of the hand are uncommon, and a high index of suspension is required for their early diagnosis. These can be grouped based on the microorganism. Mycobacterial infections include tuberculosis, atypical mycobacterial infections, and leprosy. Other bacterial infections include actinomycosis, cat-scratch disease, syphilis, tularemia, bacillary angiomatosis, and actinomycetoma. Fungal infections may be classified as cutaneous (affecting the skin, the paronychia or nail plate), subcutaneous (mainly lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis and dermatiaceous infections), and deep fungal infections. Each type of deep fungal infection has a "classic" presentation and this is emphasized. Finally, common chronic viral infections of the hand include warts and orf.

Questionário para avaliação funcional da mão em lesão de nervos / Questionnaire to evaluate hand function in nerve lesions

OBJETIVO: elaborar um questionário de avaliação funcional para analisar as dificuldades manuais encontradas na realização de atividades cotidianas de indivíduos ocidentais adultos com lesão dos nervos ulnar, mediano ou radial.MÉTODO: foi realizada entrevista com 50 pessoas, idade entre 21 e 65 anos, portadoras de lesão nos nervos ulnar, mediano ou radial para identificar as dificuldades manuais ao realizar as tarefas cotidianas. Em seguida, seis cirurgiões de mão e nove terapeutas de mão, analisaram as tarefas listadas pelos entrevistados e as classificaram em níveis de importância para uma avaliação funcional das mãos. Posteriormente, o questionário foi elaborado baseado nessa classificação.RESULTADOS: o "Questionário de avaliação da mão com lesão de nervo" é constituído por 30 questões objetivas divididas em domínios de tarefas (vestuário, alimentação, higiene pessoal, tarefas domésticas, escrita, uso de computador e atividades diversas). As respostas são atribuídas de acordo com o grau de dificuldade na realização das tarefas listadas no instrumento. O questionário foi respondido por 32 pessoas com idade entre 18 e 65 anos apresentando sequela de hanseníase. O cálculo do alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para avaliar a confiabilidade do instrumento. Após a remoção de duas questões relacionadas ao uso de computador, o resultado do alfa de Cronbach aumentou para 0,90.CONCLUSÃO: o "Questionário de avaliação da mão com lesão de nervo" apresenta alta consistência interna. Além disso, é conciso, de fácil preenchimento não necessitando a presença de profissional especializado para sua aplicação e permite a verificação do nível de independência do indivíduo com lesão de nervo periférico na mão na realização de suas tarefas habituais.

OBJECTIVE: to develop a functional evaluation questionnaire to limitations in hand function by western adults individuals with lesions of the ulnar, median or radial nerves in their routine tasks.DESIGN: an interview was conducted with 50 patients of 21-65 years of age with ulnar, median and radial nerve lesions to identify any manual difficulties in their performance of routine daily tasks. Six hand surgeons and nine hand therapists then analyzed the tasks listed by the patients and graded them in levels of importance for the evaluation of hand function, after which a questionnaire based on this classification was drawn up.RESULTS: the instrument Evaluation of Hand with Nerve Damage Questionnaire, consists of 30 objective questions divided into task domains (dressing, feeding, personal hygiene, housework, writing, use of computers and "others"), answers being classified according to degree of difficulty. The questionnaire was completed by 32 patients of 18-65 years of age with sequelae of Hansen's disease. Cronbach's coefficient alpha was used to assess the reliability of the instrument. Following removal of two questions regarding computer use, Cronbach's coefficient alpha increased to 0.90.CONCLUSION: the Evaluation of Hand with Nerve Damage Questionnaire shows a high internal consistency. In addition it is concise, easy to fill instrument not requiring specialized professional to apply and allows evaluation of the degree of independence of the individual with peripheral nerve lesion in the hand in performing routine daily tasks.