Radiological changes in hands and feet in disabled leprosy patients: a clinico-radiological correlation

Seventy-six consecutive leprosy patients with disabilities were subjected to radiological examination of hands and feet, and bone changes were found in 63 of them (82.9%). Specific, nonspecific and osteoporotic bone changes were observed in 22.4%, 78.9% and 28.9% of cases respectively. Bone cysts (10.5%), subarticular erosions (10.5%) and enlargement of nutrient foramina (5.3%) were the common specific bone changes whereas bone absorptive changes (59.2%), soft tissue changes (39.5%) and concentric absorption (39.5%) were the most frequent nonspecific bone changes. Specific bone changes were more common in older patients (age 40 years) and nonspecific bone changes correlated with duration of disease, duration of deformity, and disability index. Osteoporotic bone changes were found to be affected by ageing and severity of disability of hands and feet.