Review
Rehabilitation
Hui-Min Xie, Ke-Xue Zhang, Shuo Wang, Ning Wang, Na Wang, Xia Li, Li-Ping Huang
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of mirror therapy for phantom limb pain and found that mirror therapy has short-term benefits for relieving phantom limb pain, with better effects for patients with pain lasting more than 1 year.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tonya L. Rich, Hannah L. Phelan, Amy A. Gravely, Kierra J. Falbo, Jacob A. Finn, Mary E. Matsumoto, Katherine J. Muschler, Christine M. Olney, Jessica E. Kiecker, Andrew H. Hansen
Summary: This study conducted phone interviews to better understand the experience of phantom limb pain (PLP) and patients' familiarity with treatments. It was found that the majority of participants tried non-drug treatments for PLP, but none were consistently endorsed as highly effective. Therefore, more research is needed to identify the best non-drug interventions for PLP and understand the factors that influence patient engagement in these treatments.
JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Manabu Yoshimura, Hiroshi Kurumadani, Junya Hirata, Katsutoshi Senoo, Kozo Hanayama, Toru Sunagawa, Kosuke Uchida, Akio Gofuku, Kenji Sato
Summary: This case study describes the effect of virtual reality training on severe, long-term phantom limb pain and upper limb activity on the amputated side. The study found that virtual reality training can reduce pain intensity and increase upper limb activity, possibly by promoting reintegration of the sensory-motor loop.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Anesthesiology
Anna Stankevicius, Sarah B. Wallwork, Simon J. Summers, Brenton Hordacre, Tasha R. Stanton
Summary: This systematic rapid review found that the majority of individuals will experience some form of phantom phenomena at some point post-amputation, with the highest lifetime prevalence. Consideration of individual patient characteristics is crucial for understanding the incidence and prevalence of phantom phenomena.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Manish Bhomia, Nagaraja Balakathiresan, Min Zhai, Aimee Alphonso-Morrison, Monica Tung, Sacha Finn, Briana Perry, Wendy Hill, Colleen O'Connell, Steven Hanling, Morgan Hunt, Paul Pasquina, Jack Tsao, Barbara Knollmann-Ritschel
Summary: This study provides the first evidence of the association of microRNAs in phantom limb pain, with a significantly increased expression of 16 microRNAs observed in participants experiencing phantom limb pain. Linear regression analysis suggests that the time since amputation is inversely related to the severity of the pain.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Damien P. Kuffler
Summary: At least two million people in the United States of America live with lost limbs, and the number is expected to double by 2050. Within days to weeks of the amputation, up to 90% of these individuals develop neuropathic pain, presenting as phantom limb pain (PLP). The primary treatment for PLP is the administration of pharmacological agents, although alternative techniques are also discussed.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Martin Diers, Bertram Krumm, Xaver Fuchs, Robin Bekrater-Bodmann, Christopher Milde, Joerg Trojan, Jens Foell, Susanne Becker, Gerhard Ruemenapf, Herta Flor
Summary: This study examined the prevalence of phantom limb pain in amputees and identified different factors associated with phantom limb pain and residual limb pain. Clinical/demographic variables and perceptual variables were found to be major contributors to phantom limb pain.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Johannes Neumueller, Kordula Lang-Illievich, Connor T. A. Brenna, Christoph Klivinyi, Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti
Summary: calcitonin has emerged as a novel analgesic for phantom limb pain (PLP) with documented benefits. There is limited evidence on its use in chronic PLP, but further research is warranted.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Alexander Gardetto, Eva-Maria Baur, Cosima Prahm, Vinzenz Smekal, Johannes Jeschke, Gerfried Peternell, Michael T. Pedrini, Jonas Kolbenschlag
Summary: Targeted sensory reinnervation (TSR) involves surgical rewiring of sensory nerves to reduce phantom limb pain and restore a more normal body image. When combined with special prosthetic devices, TSR can also improve gait and balance.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Rehabilitation
Fengyi Wang, Rengang Zhang, Jiaqi Zhang, Dinggen Li, Yu Wang, Yong-Hong Yang, Quan Wei
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that mirror therapy is beneficial for reducing phantom limb pain in amputees with fair-quality evidence.
CLINICAL REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jingwei Wang, Jingyuan Fan, G. C. Raju, Jinmin Zhao
Summary: A network meta-analysis was conducted to rank and quantify the efficacy of interventions for phantom limb pain. The study found that mirror therapy is the most optimal treatment for PLP, and a combination of therapies would enhance the therapeutic effect.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Elisabetta Ambron, Laurel J. Buxbaum, Alexander Miller, Harrison Stoll, Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, H. Branch Coslett
Summary: Immersive VR activities can reduce phantom limb pain in subjects with lower-limb amputation. Both treatments, one without leg movements and one with leg motions, were successful in reducing PLP by 28% and 39.6% respectively.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Shuang Jiang, Ke Zheng, Wei Wang, Yi Pei, Enduo Qiu, Gang Zhu
Summary: The study found that the incidence rates of PLP, PLS, and SLP after malignant limb amputation within the first month post-operation were 54.3%, 65.4%, and 32.7% respectively. Factors associated with the severity of postoperative PLP included amputation level, preoperative pain, and amputation times. Higher incidence of PLS was observed after lower limb amputation, while there was no significant difference in the occurrence of PLP and SLP.
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Andrew Sawers, Stefania Fatone
Summary: The purpose of this study was to test whether there were differences in hip strength between the residual and intact limbs of lower limb prosthesis users. The results suggest that the intact limb is weaker compared to the residual limb, which may be due to methodological choices or biomechanical demands on the residual limb hip muscles. Further research is needed to confirm, expand upon, and elucidate the findings, as well as clarify the contributions of intact and residual limb hip muscles to walking and balance in lower limb prosthesis users.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Shuang Jiang, Meng-meng Zhou, Rong Xia, Jing-hui Bai, Li-hui Yan
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for phantom limb pain in pediatric oncology after amputation through systematic literature search, methodological quality assessment, and statistical analysis. The findings will help determine whether gabapentin is effective and safe for managing phantom limb pain in children after amputation.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)