[Current status of surgery in the comprehensive treatment of Hansen's disease]

In the last decades the neural component of Hansen's disease has achieved its place of prime importance among other manifestations of the disease. Provided that there is a close relationship between neural involvement and deformities and that hitherto antileprosy drugs are able only to kill and prevent bacillary growth and not able to interrupt the immunological features of the disease, we can expect a significant load of patients with some degree of disability, including those in regular treatment. Surgery plays an important role in control programmes since it has not just the single aim to restore lost function but also to prevent further damage and to improve patient's self-confidence.