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Perceptual phenomena after unilateral arm amputation: a pre-post-surgical comparison
S M Grüsser1, C Winter, M Schaefer
1Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University Berlin, Hausvogteiplatz 5-7, D-10117, Berlin, Germany.
Neuroscience Letters
|March 30, 2001
Summary
Phantom limb pain and phenomena were assessed before and after arm amputation. Neuroimaging revealed cortical reorganization in the somatosensory cortex, sometimes occurring even before amputation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Phantom phenomena, including pain, are common post-amputation but understudied perioperatively.
- Investigating these phenomena offers insights into neural plasticity and pain mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess phantom limb phenomena, pain, and primary somatosensory cortex changes.
- To examine these changes in the perioperative period of upper limb amputation.
Main Methods:
- Two patients with metastatic carcinoma undergoing arm amputation were studied.
- Methods included comprehensive psychometric assessments and neuroelectric source imaging.
- Data were collected 2 days before and 7 days after amputation.
Main Results:
- Both patients reported phantom limb pain consistent with pre-amputation levels.
- One patient showed immediate post-amputation reorganization of the mouth area into the deafferented hand area.
- The other patient exhibited pre-amputation cortical reorganization, potentially linked to long-term arm disuse.
Conclusions:
- Phantom limb pain can persist or remain similar post-amputation.
- Cortical reorganization in the primary somatosensory cortex occurs around the time of amputation.
- This reorganization may be influenced by factors preceding amputation, such as disuse.