[Frequency of the association of perforating plantar leprotic lesions and truncal involvement of the posterior tibial nerve]

This study was performed to determine the electrophysiological status of the posterior tibial nerve and its muscular innervation in patients both with and without plantar ulcers without osteitis. In both cases, motor distal latencies remained normal, but the denervation of the plantar muscles was significantly more important in patients with ulcers. These results show that axonal degeneration is predominant in leprous neuritis affecting the tibial nerves. Neurolysis was performed in twelve patients in the retromalleolar part of the tibial nerve. All patients have recover from their ulcers, but no improvement of their electrophysiological parameters was observed.