Fracture of calcaneum following drop foot surgery--a case report.

The usual protocol for correction of drop foot in leprosy, a consequence of damage to the common peroneal nerve, is a tendon transfer, immobilisation to heal the tendon juncture and post-operative exercises to put the transfer into use. Tarsal disintegrations have been reported in literature in drop foot patients when the transferred tendons were inserted into the bone making a drill hole to ensure firm anchorage. Such disintegrations are rarely seen these days because bony insertion of the tendon transfers is not performed in the leprosy-affected foot.

ECRL--a wrist extensor with multiple uses in deformity correction.

Extensor carpi radialis longus muscle has been used in various types of procedures for corrective hand surgery and is a favored muscle for correction of finger clawing due to ulnar nerve palsy in leprosy because its removal leaves an insignificant motor deficit and gives a linear scar at the donor site. It is usually not paralyzed in leprosy. The muscle, being phasic, is easy to re-educate.