Hand atrophy in a leprosy patient – treatment with polymethylmethacrylate

摘要

Leprosy, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affectsmostly the skin and peripheral nerves. The polymethylmethacrylate has beenused as bone cement, knee and intraocular implants as a bioexpansor, filling the areawhere it is applied. We describe the case of a Brazilian male with tuberculoidleprosy who developed muscular wasting between the metacarpals of both hands.Ten years after leprosy treatment, he was submitted to five applications of 10%polymethylmethacrylate. The treatment was successful, improving the appearance ofhis hands leading to a positive impact on the patient's life