Decrease in phantom limb pain associated with prosthesis-induced increased use of an amputation stump in humans

The experience of phantom limb pain, non-painful phantom limb sensation and telescoping was ascertained by questionnaire in a group of upper extremity amputees wearing a functionally effective Sauerbruch prosthesis which permits extensive use of the affected limb and in a group of patients wearing a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 1999-09, Vol.272 (2), p.131-134
Main Authors: WEISS, T, MILTNER, W. H. R, ADLER, T, BRÜCKNER, L, TAUB, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Amputation Stumps - physiopathology
Artificial Limbs
Biological and medical sciences
Health Surveys
Humans
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Pain - physiopathology
Pain Measurement
Phantom Limb - physiopathology
Phantom Limb - therapy
Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects)
Surveys and Questionnaires
Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments. Material. Instrumentation
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Summary:The experience of phantom limb pain, non-painful phantom limb sensation and telescoping was ascertained by questionnaire in a group of upper extremity amputees wearing a functionally effective Sauerbruch prosthesis which permits extensive use of the affected limb and in a group of patients wearing a cosmetic prosthesis that did little to increase the utilization of the amputation stump. The Sauerbruch prosthesis group exhibited a significant and large decrease in amount of phantom limb pain while the cosmetic prosthesis group showed no change. Neither group experienced a decrease in non-painful phantom limb sensation or telescoping. The amount of phantom limb pain has been found to be highly correlated with the amount of injury-related, afferent-decrease cortical reorganization. It is possible that the increased use of the amputation stump induced by wearing a Sauerbruch prosthesis produced a countervailing use-dependent, afferent-increase type of cortical reorganization that reversed the phantom limb pain. These preliminary results require replication. Their therapeutic implications are discussed.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00595-9