Related Experiment Videos
Calcitonin in phantom limb pain: a double-blind study.
Hanno Jaeger1, Christoph Maier
1Department of Anesthesiology, Christian-Albrechts University, KielGermany.
Pain
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Salmon calcitonin (s-CT) effectively treats phantom limb pain (PLP) after amputation. This double-blind study showed s-CT significantly reduced PLP compared to placebo, offering lasting pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a significant challenge post-amputation.
- Case reports suggest salmon calcitonin (s-CT) may alleviate PLP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of salmon calcitonin (s-CT) versus placebo in treating early postoperative phantom limb pain (PLP).
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, crossover study involving 21 patients with severe PLP post-amputation.
- Patients received either s-CT (200 IU) or placebo infusions when pain exceeded a numeric analogue scale (NAS) of 3.
- Crossover design allowed for comparison within patients.
Main Results:
- s-CT infusion significantly reduced PLP from a median NAS of 7 to 4 (P < 0.001), while placebo had no effect (P > 0.1).
- 90% of patients experienced over 50% pain relief within a week, with 76% completely pain-free.
- Long-term follow-up showed sustained pain relief in a majority of patients for up to two years.
Conclusions:
- Salmon calcitonin (s-CT) is a valuable and effective treatment for phantom limb pain (PLP) in the early postoperative period.
- s-CT demonstrates significant analgesic properties for PLP, offering substantial and lasting relief.