title: [Randomized controlled trial of medical and medico-surgical treatment of Hansen's neuritis].
abstract: The aim of the study was to compare the results of the medical treatment alone and of the medico-surgical treatment on leprous neuritis. The patients were followed-up during 2 years, with regular neurological evaluations. The statistical study was performed using the Tukey test. Ninety-three nerves (ulnar, median, common peroneal and posterior tibial) with a deficit of less than 6 months duration have been studied in 31 leprosy patients. All the patients were treated by steroids but in some of them a nerve surgical decompression was performed. An improvement of the sensitive and motor deficit was observed in both groups. No significant statistical differences appeared between the 2 groups according to the nerve involved, the duration of the deficit, the form of leprosy and the type of antibacillary treatment. However, the medico-surgical treatment had a significant better result on pain and on major but incomplete nervous involvement. This study included a limited number of nerves, thus, it would be useful to perform others randomized assays to better define the indications of surgical decompression in the management of leprous neuritis.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Léprologie Appliquée de Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moulia-Pela
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009443:Neuritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D011241:Prednisone