Damien House continues to dedicate itself to improving the lives of persons with Hansen’s by giving the best treatments available. Since 2004, we have collaborated with peripheral nerve surgeons who call themselves Annie’s Angels. The group Annie’s Angels comes from the US to perform nerve decompression surgeries on our patients.
Our patients suffer from disabilities including clawed hands, “drop” feet, burns, and amputations. These disabilities are caused by the bacteria M. leprae, which is responsible for Hansen’s, directly attacking the nerves and the body’s immune reaction to the bacteria. The bacterium thrives in cooler, peripheral environments of the body, so it often targets the nerves of the arms, legs, and face. When the nerves are injured, they can swell and become compressed by their surroundings in the body. This results in neuropathy, or the loss of the nerves’ motor and sensory functions, and is why patients with Hansen’s lose their ability to move their hands and feet and their ability to feel pain when they are hurt or burned. The patients lose part of their connection with the world, previously sustained through movement and touch! The peripheral nerve decompression surgeries are intended to reverse some of the damage caused by the compressed nerves and also to prevent development of further disability.
Over the years, we have had a great number of surgeries–over 100! – with many success stories.
Annie’s Angels group outside of Hospital Luis Vernaza in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The group is led by Dr. James P. Wilton, DPM, FACFAS (front row second from the right).
Dr. Wilton is a distinguished foot, ankle, and peripheral nerve specialist with over 30 years of experience diagnosing and treating complex nerve-related conditions.
