Motor nerve conduction velocity studies of the ulnar nerve in patients with leprosy.

Many of the disabling fea tures of leprosy ~re caused by peripheral nerve impairment involving both sensory and motor modalities. Pathologic changes in an affected nerve are usually seen at a site where the nerve passes over a bone or joint, or where the nerve is superficial. In the arm the most commonly involved nerves, in order of frequency, are the ulnar at the elbow and the median at the wrist. In the leg they are the posterior tibial at the ankle and the common peroneal at the knee. The ulnar nerve becomes involved most often at the elbow just proximal to the ulnar groove and, less frequently, a t the wrist (1) . Motor nerve conduction velocity shldies have become recognized, in the past five or six years, as important aids in assessing peripheral nerve dysfunction. To date, many studies have been made relative to a wide variety of neuropathies. There have not been any systematic studies, however, concerning motor nerve conduction in patients with leprosy. Magora et oZ. (') noted that they have been evaluating conduction times, but did not have sufficient data to report. As part of a larger study of the rehabilitation of persons with leprosy, the present study was conceived to find methods for detecting peripheral nerve involvement sufficiently early to pre ent disability by