Hand wounds in leprosy patients

Abstract

This study assessed the causes, duration and site of hand wounds seen among patients in order to try and improve the delivery of self-care teaching to patients with anaesthetic hands. Seventy-seven patients with 102 affected hand surfaces were assessed. The commonest cause was a burn from a tea glass. The average duration of the wound was 2 weeks. Most patients had a single current wound and 62% of wounds were on the palmar surface.