Surgical reconstruction of leprotic foot drop

Abstract

We have operated 152 patients for correction of foot-drop due to leprosy from March 1992 to July 1999. The method used was circumtibial transfer of the tibial is posterior to the tendons of extensor hellucis longus and the extensor digitorum longus in the foot together with lengthening of the Achilles tendon. The results were satisfactory in 135 of these cases as judged by adequate restoration of heel--toe gait and of active dorsiflexion. The follow up period ranged from 6 months to 8 years. Inadequate post-operative physiotherapy was the reason for unsatisfactory results in seventeen cases.