Reconstructive Surgery for People Affected by Leprosy to correct disfigurements and deformities associated with leprosy through reconstructive surgery with the aim of restoring functionality, preventing disability and enabling rehabilitation.
While leprosy doesn’t kill directly, it deforms and stigmatizes, leading to rejection by communities, and consequent impoverishment, disease and early death.
Leprosy causes both disfigurement and disability especially of hands, feet and eyes. While disfigurement often leads to social rejection, disability reduces the possibility of undertaking productive work. Together, they are a life sentence without surgical intervention.
The reconstructive surgery is done to correct deformities and prevent further disability. The commonest deformities in leprosy that can be corrected by surgery are:
- Claw Hand
- Ape thumb
- Lagophthalmos
- Foot drop
- Claw toes
The procedure of Reconstructive Surgery takes close to two months on an average. This includes extensive pre-and-post-operative Physiotherapy for the patient. The quality of physiotherapy is a critical factor in restoring the functionality of the affected body part.
The procedure is explained below:
- 7 – 10-day Pre-operative Physiotherapy
- The Surgical Procedure
- 21 days of POP (Plaster) immobilization (usually at home)
- 21 – 30 days of Post-operative Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation Plan.
A Rehabilitation plan is made for each individual patient who undergoes corrective surgery, and they are followed-up. The plan will take into consideration their occupation before admittance for surgery and what they intend to do after surgery – whether going back to the same occupation or not. Based on their academic/technical qualification, previous experience, interests, disabilities and needs of the community they are referred to TLMTI vocational and livelihood programmes.
The Leprosy Mission Trust India is one of the very few organisations in India which provides comprehensive reconstructive surgeries to people affected by leprosy.
Outcome: Reconstructive surgery has positive impact on the physical, socio economical as well as psychological life of the patient.
Physical Outcome:
- Improved function of the impacted body part
- No visible signs of leprosy leading to non-discrimination
- Very low possibility of further disability
Socio-Economical Outcome:
- Increased work output due to improved functionality
- Increased participation in community
- No fear of social exclusion
- Increased prospect of leading a normal social life – marriage, employability, etc.
Psychological Outcome:
- Increased self-confidence to battle leprosy-associated stigma
- Improvement in psychological distress caused by leprosy
All donations are tax-exempted under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Please contact us on donate@leprosymission.in or call us on +91 120 4077200 or Whatsapp +91-8860071874