NERVE CONDUCTION STUDY IN LEPROSY PATIENTS: AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF MOTOR ULNAR AND MOTOR MEDIAN NERVES.

Abstract

Background: In Leprosy disease involves peripheral nerves in the course of the disease leading to gross deformities and disabilities. By the time it becomes clinically apparent, the nerve damage is already quite advanced. If the preclinical damage is detected early in the course of disease, it can be prevented further deformities and disabilities. Materials and Methods: This electrophysiological case-control study was conducted on 24(Cases;13, Controls:11) patients with clinically diagnosed leprosy, in the Dermatology Department of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi(M), Wardha. This study was done to assess the mean nerve conduction velocity, mean amplitude and mean latency of motor ulnar and median nerve. Results and Conclusion: We found decreased mean amplitude in motor median and ulnar nerve, reduced mean conduction velocity in motor ulnar nerve besides no changes in mean latency in the median and ulnar nerves.