title: Posterior tibialis transfer for foot-drop due to leprosy: a case with 40 years follow up.
abstract: A 56-year-old male was transferred to our centre because of a relapse of leprosy neuritis in the hands. We found that the patient had received a posterior tibialis tendon transfer for correction of his left dropped foot 40 years previously. On examination active dorsiflexion of the left ankle joint was close to 0 degrees with grade 4 power of dorsiflexion, and the plantar flexion was about 35 degrees. Walking gait was almost normal. There were some scars on the plantar surface of the left metatarsal area; but with the continuous use of a soft dressing pad under the middle part of the sole, plantar ulceration has been avoided for many years even with active daily activities of the patient. The patient is very satisfied with the operative results.
authors.affiliation: National Reconstructive Surgery and Rehabilitation Centre for Leprosy, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiang-wang-miao Street, Nanjing 210042, China. qianjiange@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013977:Tibia / Q000637:transplantation*