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Related Experiment Videos

Phantom limb pain treated by electrical stimulation

John Miles1, Sampson Lipton

  • 1Centre for Pain Relief and Regional Department of Medical and Surgical Neurology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool 9 Great Britain.

Pain
|December 1, 1978
PubMed
Summary

Electrical stimulation effectively relieved phantom limb pain in most patients. Twelve patients received implants, with ten experiencing significant pain reduction, demonstrating a promising treatment for neuropathic pain.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pain Management
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a challenging neuropathic pain condition.
  • Current treatments for PLP have limited efficacy for many patients.
  • Electrical stimulation offers a potential therapeutic modality for PLP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the suitability and efficacy of electrical stimulator implants for treating phantom limb pain.
  • To evaluate patient response to peripheral nerve and spinal cord stimulation.
  • To identify factors influencing treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty patients with phantom limb pain were evaluated for treatment candidacy.
  • Twelve patients underwent implantation of electrical stimulators targeting peripheral nerves or the spinal cord.

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  • Patient-reported pain relief was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively.

    • Main Results:

    • Ten out of twelve treated patients reported significant pain relief (seven excellent, three partial).
    • One patient achieved sustained excellent pain relief using transcutaneous electrical stimulation.
    • Variability in patient response suggests influencing factors warrant further investigation.

    Conclusions:

    • Electrical stimulation, particularly via implanted devices, is an effective treatment for a majority of patients with phantom limb pain.
    • Transcutaneous electrical stimulation can also provide significant pain relief.
    • Further research is needed to optimize patient selection and treatment parameters for electrical stimulation in PLP.