[Temporary relief from pain in the phantom limb after spinal anesthesia using a combination of bupivacaine and...

Two cases are reported of patients with phantom limb pain after lower limb amputation and requiring surgery of their stump. The stumps were revised and the remaining femoral shaft shortened. Both had spinal anaesthesia for this procedure, with an association of bupivacaine and 150 micrograms of clonidine. In one patient, the phantom pain did not resume for one month, and in the other for three days. The return of pain was preceded by the sensation of a phantom limb. These cases suggest that alpha 2 adrenergic agonists could play a major part in the treatment of phantom limb pain.