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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Real-time Video Projection in an MRI for Characterization of Neural Correlates Associated with Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain
Published on: April 20, 2019
Mirror Therapy for the Management of Phantom Limb Pain: A Single- Center Experience
Debra Siew Theng Chong1, Maryanne Pople1, Thomas James Hardy1
1Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK.
Background:
Phantom limb pain (PLP) can have devastating consequences, affecting up to 90% of amputees. PLP is associated with analgesia dependence and impaired quality of life. Mirror therapy (MT) is a novel treatment that has been applied in other pain syndromes. We prospectively evaluated MT in the management of PLP.
Methods:
A prospective study of patients recruited between 2008 and 2020 who underwent unilateral major limb amputation, with a healthy contralateral limb. Participants were invited to attend weekly MT sessions. Pain in the 7 days prior to each MT session was scored on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS: 0-10 mm) and the short form McGill pain questionnaire.
Results:
Ninety eight patients (68 males and 30 females) aged 17-89 years were recruited over 12 years. Forty four percent of patients had amputations due to peripheral vascular disease. Over an average of 2.5 sessions, the final treatment score on the VAS scale was 2.6 (standard deviation ± 3.0) with a reduction of 4.5 points on VAS score. As a comparison using the short form McGill pain questionnaire scoring system, the average final treatment score was 3.2 (± 5.0) with 91% overall improvement.
Conclusions:
MT is a very powerful and effective intervention for PLP. It is an exciting addition to the armory of vascular surgeons in the management of this condition.
