Leprosy: Trophic Skin Ulcers.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Approximately 30% of patients with leprosy develop nerve damage. Trophic, or neuropathic, ulcer is a common complication of an anesthetic foot. The term plantar, trophic, or perforating ulcer was introduced in 1959. It was defined as a chronic ulceration of the anesthetic foot, situated in well-defined areas overlying bony prominences, resistant to local and/or systemic therapy, and characterized by a marked tendency to recur. It is responsible for much of the morbidity associated with leprosy.