Report and evaluation of Brazilian experience in the rehabilitation of patients with leprosy.

As part of an investigation of the rehabilitation of physically disabled leprosy patients, a report and evaluation of Brazilian experience in this area given. After describing leprosy as a genuine and relevant public health problem in Brazil because of the numbers involved, the suffering caused and the difficulties inherent in its control the authors emphasize the important role of physical disability in this context. The description of a project set up in 1975 shows a model based on a Reference Centre as an epicentre for irradiating triggering action in five Brazilian cities. The results obtained thus far consist of 32 courses given at the Reference Centre and approximately 449 surgical interventions performed by one of the authors, 93.10% of which were considered satisfactory. The need to evaluate the clinical and therapeutic procedures involved from an epidemiological viewpoint is emphasized.