Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2026

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation: Surgical Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial in Postamputation Pain
Published on: March 8, 2024
Perioperative Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With Targeted Muscle Reinnervation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A
Tolga Suvar1, Angie Jung1, Robert J McCarthy1
1Department of Anesthesiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
Abstract:
Phantom limb pain (PLP) and residual limb pain (RLP) are often difficult to treat with pharmacologic regimen alone and affect many lower extremity amputation patients. We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with chronic PLP and a right above-the-knee amputation who underwent perioperative spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in conjunction with targeted nerve reinnervation. Following SCS implantation and surgical intervention, the patient reported sustained significant pain reduction of approximately 80% over three months, improved function, and cessation of analgesic use. This case illustrates the feasibility of sequential central neuromodulation and peripheral nerve reconstruction in refractory post-amputation pain and generates the hypothesis that these approaches may have complementary roles.

