Frequency and Localization of Plantar Ulcers in 120 Leprosy Patients / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Out of 3288 patients admitted National Leprosy Center in Sorok-do, could be selected 120 patients confirmed to have one or more plantar ulcers, whose frequency and localization form the basis of this clinical observation. 1. Of 120 patients, 32 had ulcers bilaterally, so that total 196 ulcers in 152 feet were subjected to study. 2. Male patients were approximately three times more frequent than female. Age range showed that 76(63.3%) of 120 patients were in their six and seven decade, and only three cases were under the third Decade. 3. The base of first metatarsal was the site with highest incidence of ulcer (28.6%), and the bases of all metarsals occupied 57.7% of all ulcers. The medial plantar and the heel were low in incidence. 4, Transverse division of the plantar surface revealed that ulcers were located predominantly in the forefoot part (64.8%), showing gradual decrease in the midfoot (27%) and the hindfoot region (8.2%) 5. Longitudinal section of the plantar surface into three compartments showed almost even distribution of ulcers, though the central ray showed slightly lower incidence than those of the medial and lateral ray. 6. Dynamic pressure triangle was found to be the site of preference, in which 100 ulcers(59%) of all was observed. 7. Non-lepromatous patients showed the higher rate of occurrence, in that they occupied 21.3% of all the patients, while 30.8% of 120 ulcer-patients were non-lepromatous type. 8. Of total 196 ulcers, those with history of more than ten years were 117(59.7%), and 18 of them had the history of more than 30 years.