Longstreth George F, Grypma Lydia, Willis Brittney A, Anderson Kathi C
Survivors of Torture, International. San Diego, Calif.
Survivors of Torture, International. San Diego, Calif.
Am J Med. 2021 Feb;134(2):278-281. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.08.016. Epub 2020 Sep 15.
Falanga is a widespread form of torture, but details of the chronic skin sequelae on physical examination are unreported.
In an organization dedicated to the care of torture victims, we prospectively documented examination findings in 10 consecutive, black African falanga victims.
Ten individuals (8 men) suffered 1 or more episodes of falanga, most recently 9 to 29 months (9 cases) or 10 years (1 case) earlier. Examination revealed 3 to 50 or more pigmented macules, most greater than or equal to 0.5 cm in size, on both soles of all 10 victims. The degree of pigmentation and border distinctness of the lesions varied. Two cases had plantar tenderness.
Plantar hyperpigmentation was present in all cases 9 months to 10 years after suffering falanga. This physical sign can support victims' legal requests for political asylum, and its recognition can aid physicians who care for torture victims.
足底殴打是一种广泛存在的酷刑形式，但体格检查中慢性皮肤后遗症的细节尚无报道。
在一个致力于照料酷刑受害者的组织中，我们前瞻性地记录了连续10例非洲黑人足底殴打受害者的检查结果。
10人（8名男性）遭受过1次或多次足底殴打，最近一次发生在9至29个月前（9例）或10年前（1例）。检查发现，所有10名受害者的双足底均有3至50个或更多色素沉着斑，大多数斑的大小大于或等于0.5厘米。病变的色素沉着程度和边界清晰度各不相同。2例有足底压痛。
在遭受足底殴打9个月至10年后，所有病例均出现足底色素沉着。这一体征可为受害者申请政治庇护的法律诉求提供支持，且对其的识别有助于照料酷刑受害者的医生。
