Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42136765›Full record

ReviewPakistan journal of medical sciences2026

Surgical management of leprosy-associated neuropathy in Pakistan: Restoring function and reducing disability in the post-elimination era: A narrative review.

Faheela Tamseel, Sahla Waqas, Inam Ul Haq

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Faheela TamseelFaheela Tamseel, MBBS, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sahla WaqasSahla Waqas, MBBS, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Inam Ul HaqInam Ul Haq, MBBS, Rashid Latif Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: To narratively review the role of surgical interventions in the management of leprosy-associated neuropathy in Pakistan, focusing clinical indications, timing, and outcomes of nerve decompression, nerve abscess management, and reconstructive procedures. This review also aimed to highlight gaps in local evidence, compare Pakistani practices with global standards, and assess how surgical care can be integrated into national leprosy control efforts to reduce disability in the post-elimination era. Methodology: Literature search was conducted (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane; 1980-2025) to provide a broad overview of the epidemiology, medical management, rehabilitation, and surgical treatment of leprosy-associated neuropathy. Studies describing surgical indications, techniques, outcomes, or rehabilitation were emphasized. Publications focused exclusively on medical therapy without neurological outcomes were excluded. Pakistani studies were prioritized, while international literature was included to contextualize local practice and supplement limited national data. Results: Surgical services in Pakistan are largely limited to specialized centres such as MALC and AKUH. Nerve decompression, tendon transfers, and reconstructive procedures have the potential to restore function and prevent ulcers, with functional recovery rates in comparable low-resource settings. Early surgical intervention combined with rehabilitation yields the best outcomes in most of the articles. International models demonstrate that integration of surgical care into national programs is feasible and effective, even in resource-constrained environments. Conclusion: The reviewed evidence indicates that surgical intervention with rehabilitation offers optimal outcomes for leprosy-associated neuropathy. In Pakistan's post-elimination era, prioritizing disability prevention through expansion of surgical services, strengthening reconstructive training, and integrating rehabilitation into national leprosy programs is essential to reducing long-term disability and stigma.

Indexed as

LeprosyNeuropathyPost-elimination eraPost-surgical rehabilitationSurgery

Identifiers

PMID42136765
PMCPMC13169921

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.