• A D Houghton, G Nicholls, A L Houghton, E Saadah, and L McColl.
• Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
• Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1994 Jan 1; 76 (1): 22-5.

AbstractAll 338 lower limb amputees under the care of one disablement services centre were asked to assess phantom pain severity at different times after amputation. Of 212 (63%) replies, 13 had died, 22 were non-limb wearers and 22 were unable to complete the questionnaire. In all, 176 useful replies were received--96 below-knee, 74 above-knee and 6 through-knee. Of these, 98 amputations were performed for trauma and 78 for vascular disease. Below-knee amputees rehabilitated better than above-knee amputees (P < 0.05) and traumatic better than vascular amputees (P < 0.0001). Preoperative pain was worse in vascular amputees (P < 0.0005), but there was no significant difference in the amount of phantom-pain experienced by vascular and traumatic amputees. Phantom sensations were experienced by 82% and phantom pain by 78%. Phantom pain decreased with time, was present equally in traumatic and vascular amputees, and was related to the amount of preoperative pain (P < 0.005). Only 22% felt phantom pain had impaired their rehabilitation. Rehabilitation score was related to phantom pain severity at the time of questionnaire completion (P < 0.05), but not at other specified times after operation.

23 keywords...

hide…