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WRIST INVOLVEMENT IN HANSEN’S DISEASE

¹ Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital ‘Reina Sofia’, University of Cordoba, Avenue Menendéz Pidal S/N 14.004, Cordoba, Spain.
² Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital ‘Virgen del Rocio’, University of Seville, Avenue Manuel Siurot S/N 41.013, Seville, Spain.
³ Anatomy Department, University of Cordoba, Spain.
⁴ Orthopaedic Department, Hospital ‘Valle de los Pedroches’, Pozoblanco, Avenue Constitucion S/N 14.400, Cordoba, Spain.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr P. Carpintero at Mejorana 33, 14.012, Cordoba, Spain.

We performed a neurological and radiological study of the wrists of 58 patients with Hansen’s disease and 60 age-matched healthy control subjects. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were found between the groups in the carpal glenoid sector, the radial physeal widening index, the carpal ulnar distance, the carpal index and in distal radio-ulnar discrepancy.

Comparison of the results in three subgroups of leprous patients with sensory impairment (group A-1), motor deficit (A-2) and no neurological impairment (A-3), showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between group A-1 and the other two. This suggests that in these patients the changes in the carpus and radiocarpal joint may be caused by neuropathic arthropathy of the wrist.

Our findings are of particular interest since there are few reports of neuropathic arthropathy in non-weight-bearing joints.