Of 2,019 patients randomly selected from the Korean National Leprosarium on Sorokdn
Island, 185 patient s (9.25%) were found to have plantar ulcers. The greatest prevalence
of these ulcers was found in lepromatous male patients between 51 and 60 years of age.
Most patients had only one ulcer and only 84 (31.5%) of the 267 ulcers seen were
infected Ninty nine (37.1%) of the ulcers were found at the base of the lateral four toes
while 55(20.6%) were found on the lateral border of the foot. Superficial type ulcers, (i.
e., those were destruction limited to the soft tissue), numbered 142 (53.2%), and
relapsing type of ulcers numbered 98 (36.7%). traumatic wounds led to the formation of
81(30.3%) ulcers, and necrosis blisters account ed for 80 (30.3%) of the ulcers observed.
Most ulcers observed were of less than six months duration and there was usually only
one ulcer on a foot, Callosity was the most commonly seen in pre-ulcerative lesions. Of
346 feet examined, 195 ulcers develope on 197 anesthetic feet while only 37 ulcers
developed on 101 feet showing normal sensibility. While plantar ulcers were most
commonly found on inverted foot, among all foot deformities the most common type was
boat foot. Fibrosis and sclerosis were the most pronounced histopathological changes
seen in the middle and deep dermis. Neither sweat glands nor Hansen's bacillus were
seen in any of the tissue specimens. Anhidrosis was found to be a major contributing
factor toward the development of plantar ulcers, especially on non-weight bearing areas
of the foot.
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