Leprosy presenting as unilateral foot drop in an immigrant boy

Abstract

This is a case report of a boy who presented with unilateral foot drop approximately 1 year after traumatic injury from skateboarding. Exploratory surgical operation was eventually performed, and histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed leprous peripheral neuropathy of the peroneal nerve. The patient had immigrated from Vietnam to the United States 3 years previously. The occurrence, albeit rare, of this entity in the immigrants from endemic leprosy regions is discussed.