Factors associated with phantom limb pain: a 31/2-year prospective study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation medicine
• Clinical research
• Pain management

Background:

• Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common complication following amputation.
• Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of PLP is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of phantom limb pain over time in a cohort of amputees.
• To identify factors associated with the occurrence of phantom limb pain post-amputation.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter longitudinal study involving 134 patients scheduled for amputation.
• Patients completed questionnaires pre-amputation and at multiple follow-up intervals up to 3.5 years post-amputation.
• Data collected included patient characteristics, amputation details, phantom pain frequency, and prosthetic use.

Main Results:

• Phantom limb pain was most prevalent at 6 months for lower limb amputees and 1.5 years for upper limb amputees.
• Women generally reported phantom pain more frequently than men.
• Logistic regression indicated that being male, having a lower limb amputation, and time elapsed since amputation were protective factors against phantom pain.

Conclusions:

• Male gender, lower limb amputation, and longer time since amputation are associated with a lower incidence of phantom limb pain.
• These findings can inform targeted interventions and patient counseling for amputees experiencing or at risk of phantom limb pain.