Disability Grading in Colombia

Leprosy Mailing List – January 31^st, 2012 

Ref.:    Disability Grading in Colombia

From:  N Cardona Castro, Sabaneta, Colombia

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Dear Dr. Salvatore,

Thank you for posting Prof. Smith’s survey on W.H.O. disability grading on the leprosy mailing list. (Jan. 13^th and 28^th, 2012).  I would like sharing the disability classification used in Colombia.

We do not use the eye, hand and feet (EHF) score, and the grades are 0, I and II but, there are other characteristics that can be interpreted like there are patients grade II+ or III.  Herewith I copy the parameters for disability classification used in Colombia.  They are included in the guidelines of our Leprosy Control Programme which is available on line at the following internet address: -http://www.nacer.udea.edu.co/pdf/libros/guiamps/guias18.pdf.  They are in Spanish and their English translation follows between brackets.

14.3 Evaluación de la discapacidad (evaluation of disabilities)

Para dicha valoración se asume la clasificación de la OMS (This evaluation uses the W.H.O. guides)

Ojos:  (Eyes)

• Grado 0: sin discapacidad (Grade 0: no disabilities)

• Grado I: anestesia, conjuntivitis (Grade I: anaesthesia, conjuntivitis)

• Grado II: lagoftalmos (Grade II: lagophthalmos)

• Iritis o queratitis: opacidad de córnea (iritis, keratitis: corneal opacity)

• Catarata: pérdida avanzada de la visión (cataract, loss of vision)

• Ceguera (blindness)

Manos: (Hands)

• Grado 0: sin discapacidad (Grade 0: no disabilities)

• Grado I: anestesia (Grade I: anaesthesia)

• Grado II: úlceras y heridas (Grade II: ulcers and wounds)

• Dedos en garra móviles: (mobile claw fingers)
• Reabsorción de 1 ó más falanges: (Reabsorption of 1 or more phalanges)
• Parálisis radial anquilosis: (Paralysis radial ankylosis)

 Pies: (Feet)

• Grado 0: sin discapacidad (Grade 0: no disabilities)

• Grado I: anestesia (Grade I: anaesthesia)

• Grado II: perforante plantar: (Grade II: plantar ulcer)
• Dedos en martillo: pie paralítico (Hammer toes: paralytic foot)
• Reabsorciones: (resorptions)
• Anquilosis de la articulación del cuello del pie (Ankylosis of the ankle joint)

Best wishes,

Nora Cardona Castro

MD MSc Investigadora Prof Asociada

Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - Universidad CES

Carrera 43A # 52 Sur 99  Sabaneta, Colombia

Tel: (57) (4) 3053500 ext 2297 | Fax: (57) (4) 3014258

ncardona(at)ces.edu.co | www.ces.edu.co