Abstract
We studied whether finger deformity due to peripheral neuritis affects the bone mineral density (BMD). The study subjects consisted of 170 male leprosy patients (48-93 years of age, average age 71 years). We divided the subjects into 3 groups according to the type of finger deformity (finger contracture, finger defect following amputation due to infection and normal). The 3 groups were matched for age and body mass index. We measured the cortical bone mineral density of the 2nd metacarpal bone (ΣGS/D) and the cortical thickness index (MCI) by computed X-ray densitometry (BonalyzerTR; Teijin). We also measured the Barthel index (BI) in each group. Three items of BI (bathing, dressing and feeding) were used to evaluate the activities of daily living (ADL) that required use of the upper extremity. Differences among groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were no statistically significant differences between the 3 groups in ΣGS/D, MCI or BI. Finger contracture or finger defect did not affect the bone mineral density or ADL that required use of the upper extremity in male leprosy patients.
