Non-pharmacological management of phantom limb pain in lower limb amputation: a systematic review

Background: The incidence and severity of phantom limb pain (PLP) does not differ much between the extremities of amputation. However, its impact on functional ability and quality of life in lower limb amputation may be different, as prosthetic weight bearing is a key component in the movement and functional rehabilitation of individuals with a lower limb amputation.

Objective: To evaluate the evidence for effectiveness or efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of PLP in adults with lower limb amputation.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search conducted on 11 electronic databases, from their inception to 25 March 2016 identified 626 potentially relevant articles. Full-text randomised controlled trials in English which examined any form of non-pharmacologic intervention for managing PLP in lower limb amputees were included. The data with regard to characteristics of the studies, participants, intervention and outcome measures and overall statistical result were extracted. The Cochrane ‘Risk of bias assessment tool’ was used to assess the bias of all included articles.

Results: Four studies met the final criteria to be included in the review. Four treatment techniques had been used in the treatment of 204 patients with lower limb amputation. Two trials showed a positive impact of intervention on PLP compared to control group. Risk of bias varied across studies, and only one included study was assessed as having a low risk of bias.

Conclusion: The review identified lack of evidence to support non-pharmacological interventions in the management of PLP. Adequately powered high-quality trials are needed in this area to inform rehabilitation.     

Chronic pain among community-dwelling elderly: a population-based clinical study

Objective: To present the occurrence, characteristics, etiology, interference, and medication of chronic pain among the elderly living independently at home. Design/setting: A total of 460 subjects in three cohorts aged 75, 80 and 85 years respectively received visits by communal home-care department nurses for a cross-sectional survey. Of them, 175 had chronic (duration ≥ 3 months) pain with an average intensity of ≥ 4/10 and/or ≥ moderate interference in daily life. Main outcome measures: Clinical assessment was performed for consenting subjects to define the location, intensity, etiology, type, interference and medications of chronic pain. Results: According to home visits, elderly people with chronic pain rated their health and mobility worse and felt sadder, lonelier and more tired than those without chronic pain. A geriatrician made clinical assessments for 106 patients with chronic pain in 2009–2013. Of them, 66 had three, 35 had two and 5 had one pain condition. The worst pain was musculoskeletal in 88 (83%) of patients. Pain was pure nociceptive in 61 (58%), pure neuropathic in 9 (8%), combined nociceptive and neuropathic pain in 34 (32%), and idiopathic in 2 (2%) patients. On a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10, the mean and maximal intensity of the worst pain was 5.7 and 7.7, respectively, while the mean pain interference was 5.9. Mean pain intensity and maximal pain intensity decreased by age. Duration of pain was longer than 5 years in 51 (48%) patients. Regular pain medication was used by 82 (77%) patients, most commonly paracetamol or NSAIDs. Although pain limited the lives of the elderly with chronic pain, they were as satisfied with their lives as those without chronic pain. Conclusions: Elderly people in our study often suffered from chronic pain, mostly musculoskeletal pain, and the origin of pain was neuropathic in up to 40% of these cases. However, elderly people with chronic pain rarely used the medications specifically for neuropathic pain. Based on increased loneliness, sadness and tiredness, as well as decreased subjective health and mobility, the quality of life was decreased among those with chronic pain compared with those without pain.

• Key Points

• It is known that chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for general practice consultations and is more common in women than men.

• In our study using detailed clinical examinations, up to 40% of patients with chronic pain in cohorts aged 75, 80 and 85 years suffered from neuropathic pain.

• However, only a few elderly people with chronic pain used medications specifically for chronic pain, which may be due to side effects or non-willingness to experiment with these drugs.

• Elderly people with chronic pain rated their health and mobility to be worse and felt sadder, lonelier and more tired but were not less satisfied with their lives than those without chronic pain.

     

Evaluation of prosthetic usage in upper limb amputees

Purpose:?Upper limb amputations cause severe functional disability and lower the patient's self body image, with severe psychological implications. Many parameters are involved in the successful rehabilitation of upper limb amputations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are any parameters that might predict the successful prosthetic rehabilitation of upper limb amputees.

Method:?The records of 45 patients who had undergone an upper limb amputation were traced. The patients were evaluated according to four parameters: (1) Modified upper extremities amputees' questionnaire; (2) Pain level according to Visual Analog Scale (VAS), range from 1 (lowest) up to 10 (highest); (3) Pain type – phantom or pain in the stump; (4) Functional assessment of prosthetic usage.

Results:?Thirty (71.43%) of the patients reported difficulties with prosthesis usage. Twenty-three patients (54.76%) were satisfied with their prosthesis – 19 had cosmetic prosthesis and four had body-powered prosthesis.

Conclusion:?No significant affect of the amputation level except for trans-wrist amputation with 100% prosthesis use. No significant difference was found between prosthesis type and the correlation to stump problems.

The above-elbow amputees, with dominant hand amputation, who used functional prosthesis (body-powered), achieved the best functional outcome and result.     

Phantom pain and risk factors: a multivariate analysis

Phantom pain has been given considerable attention in literature. Phantom pain reduces quality of life, and patients suffering from phantom pain make heavy use of the medical system. Many risk factors have been identified for phantom pain in univariate analyses, including phantom sensations, stump pain, pain prior to the amputation, cause of amputation, prosthesis use, and years elapsed since amputation. Multivariate analyses are lacking in the literature and, therefore, no estimation of an overall risk for phantom pain can be made. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors in a multivariate analysis in 536 subjects (19% upper limb amputees and 81% lower limb amputees). These subjects filled out a questionnaire in which the following items were assessed; side, date, level, and reason of amputation, pre-amputation pain, presence or absence of phantom pain, phantom sensations and or stump pain, and prosthesis use. The prevalence of phantom pain was 72% (95% CI: 68 to 76%) for the total group, 41% (95% CI: 31 to 51%) in upper limb amputees and 80% (95% CI: 76 to 83%) in lower limb amputees. The most important risk factors for phantom pain were “bilateral amputation” and “lower limb amputation.” The risk for phantom pain ranged from 0.33 for a 10-year-old patient with a distal upper limb amputation to 0.99 for a subject of 80 years with a bilateral lower limb amputation of which one side is an above knee amputation.     

Clinical results of lumbar sympathetic blocks in lower limb complex regional pain syndrome using infrared thermography as a support tool

Aim

To describe the clinical outcomes for a group of complex regional pain syndrome patients using infrared thermography as an intraprocedural support tool when undertaking fluoroscopy-guided lumbar sympathetic blocks.

Subjects

27 patients with lower limb complex regional pain syndrome accompanied by severe pain and persistent functional impairment.

Methods

A series of three fluoroscopic-guided lumbar sympathetic blocks with local anesthetic and corticoids using infrared thermography as an intraprocedural support tool were performed. Clinical variables were collected at baseline, prior to each block, and one, three, and six months after blocks in a standardized checklist assessing each of the clinical categories of complex regional pain syndrome stipulated in the Budapest criteria.

Results

23.75% of the blocks required more than one chance to achieve the desired thermal pattern and therefore to be considered as successful. A decrease in pain measured on a visual analogic scale was observed at all time points compared to pre-blockade data, but only 37% of the cases were categorized as responders, representing a ≥ 30% decrease in VAS, with the disappearance of pain at rest. An improvement of most of the clinical variables recorded was observed, such as tingling, edema, perception of thermal asymmetry, difference in coloring and sweating. There was a significant decrease of neuropathic pain and improvement of functional limitation. Logistic regression analysis showed the main variable to explain the probability of being a responder was immobilization time (odds ratio of 0.89).

Conclusion

A series of fluoroscopy-guided lumbar sympathetic blocks controlled by infrared thermography in the treatment of lower limb CRPS showed a responder rate of 37%.     

Pain Support for Adults with a Diabetes-Related Lower Limb Amputation: an Empirical Phenomenology Study

BackgroundChronic pain after lower extremity amputation surgery has been reported in up to 80% of patients. Amputations are among the most debilitating chronic complication of diabetes with a variety of consequences including depression, inability to perform daily activities, and change in quality of life.AimsThis study sought to understand the lived experience of chronic pain support among those who have undergone a diabetes-related lower limb amputation.MethodResearchers used a qualitative empirical phenomenology design. Private, semistructured interviews were conducted on a purposive sample (N = 11). Codes were identified for each participant separately and then across participants for common themes.ResultsThree major themes emerged from the research: (1) Phantom pain is nontreatable pain; (2) support systems were nonempathetic; and (3) participants experienced identification of a new normal. Participants did not understand that neuropathic (phantom) pain was part of the total pain experience. Further, they felt that there was no help from family or providers for alleviation of this pain.ConclusionsPhantom pain was identified as something the participants had to tolerate when it occurred. They did not feel that family or providers understood their pain. Further, they wanted a means of controlling their pain using nonpharmacologic therapies.     

Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program Treatment Response

Patients treated in interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation programs show long-term improvements in symptoms; however, outcomes may vary across heterogenous patient subpopulations. This longitudinal retrospective study characterizes the influence of opioids, mood, patient characteristics, and baseline symptoms on pain and functional impairment (FI) in 1,681 patients 6-months to 12-months post-treatment in an interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program incorporating opioid weaning. Linear mixed models showed immediate and durable treatment benefits with nonuniform worsening at follow up which slowed over time. Latent class growth analysis identified three post-treatment trajectories of pain and FI: mild symptoms and durable benefits, moderate symptoms and durable benefits, and intractable symptoms. A fourth pain trajectory showed immediate post-treatment improvement and worsening at follow up. Whether a patient was weaned from opioids was not predictive of treatment trajectory. Racial ethnic minority status, higher levels of post-treatment depression, and lower perceived treatment response were associated with less resolution (moderate symptoms) or intractable symptoms. Not having a college education was predictive of intractable or worsening pain and a moderate course of FI. Older age and male gender was associated with intractable FI. Treatment outcomes may be improved by the development of targeted interventions for patients at risk of poor recovery and/or deteriorating long-term course.PerspectiveThis study examined predictors of treatment response in 1,681 patients treated in an interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program incorporating opioid weaning. Opioid weaning did not predict outcome. Higher levels of symptoms, lower levels of education, and being a racial-ethnic minority were associated with a less salubrious long-term treatment response.     

Pain Management in Four‐Limb Amputation: A Case Report

Acute pain following amputation can be challenging to treat due to multiple underlying mechanisms and variable clinical responses to treatment. Furthermore, poorly controlled preoperative pain is a risk factor for developing chronic pain. Evidence suggests that epidural analgesia and peripheral nerve blockade may decrease the severity of residual limb pain and the prevalence of phantom pain after lower extremity amputation. We present the perioperative analgesic management of a patient with gangrene of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as a result of septic shock and prolonged vasopressor administration who underwent four‐limb amputation in a single procedure. A multimodal analgesic regimen was utilized, including titration of preoperative opioid and neuropathic pain agents, perioperative intravenous, epidural and peripheral nerve catheter infusions, and postoperative oral medication titration. More than 8 months postoperatively, the patient has satisfactory pain control with no evidence for phantom limb pain. To our knowledge, there have been no publications to date concerning analgesic regimens in four‐limb amputation.     

A Retrospective Trial Comparing the Effects of Different Anesthetic Techniques on Phantom Pain After Lower Limb Amputation

Background

Pain and other sensations from an amputated or absent limb, called phantom pain and phantom sensations, are well-known phenomena.

Objective

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of anesthetic techniques on phantom pain, phantom sensations, and stump pain after lower limb amputation.

Methods

Ninety-two patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III were analyzed for 1 to 24 months after lower limb amputation in this retrospective study. Patients received general, spinal, or epidural anesthesia or peripheral nerve block for their amputations. Standardized questions were used to assess phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, and stump pain postoperatively. Pain intensity was assessed on a numeric rating scale (NRS) of 0 to 10. Patients' medical histories were determined from hospital records.

Results

Patients who received epidural anesthesia and peripheral nerve block perceived significantly less pain in the week after surgery compared with patients who received general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia (NRS [SD] values, 2.68 [1.0] and 2.70 [1.0], respectively). After approximately 14 to 17 months, there was no difference in phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, or stump pain among the anesthetic techniques for amputation.

Conclusions

In patients undergoing lower limb amputation, performing epidural anesthesia or peripheral nerve block, instead of general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia, might attenuate phantom and stump pain in the first week after operation. Anesthetic technique might not have an effect on phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, or stump pain at 14 to 17 months after lower limb amputation.     

Mobility Analysis of AmpuTees (MAAT 4): classification tree analysis for probability of lower limb prosthesis user functional potential

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a predictive model to inform the probability of lower limb prosthesis users’ functional potential for ambulation.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of a database of outcomes for 2770 lower limb prosthesis users was used to inform a classification and regression tree analysis. Gender, age, height, weight, body mass index adjusted for amputation, amputation level, cause of amputation, comorbid health status and functional mobility score [Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M?)] were entered as potential predictive variables. Patient K-Level was used to assign dependent variable status as unlimited community ambulator (i.e., K3 or K4) or limited community/household ambulator (i.e., K1 or K2). The classification tree was initially trained from 20% of the sample and subsequently tested with the remaining sample.

Results: A classification tree was successfully developed, able to accurately classify 87.4% of individuals within the model’s training group (standard error 1.4%), and 81.6% within the model’s testing group (standard error 0.82%). Age, PLUS-M? T-score, cause of amputation and body weight were retained within the tree logic.

Conclusions: The resultant classification tree has the ability to provide members of the clinical care team with predictive probabilities of a patient’s functional potential to help assist care decisions.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Classification and regression tree analysis is a simple analytical tool that can be used to provide simple predictive models for patients with a lower limb prosthesis.

• The resultant classification tree had an 81.6% (standard error 0.82%) accuracy predicting functional potential as an unlimited community ambulator (i.e., K3 or K4) or limited community/ household ambulator (i.e., K1 or K2) in an unknown group of 2770 lower limb prosthesis users.

• The resultant classification tree can assist with the rehabilitation team’s care planning providing probabilities of functional potential for the lower limb prosthesis user.

     

Cognitive-emotional sensitization contributes to wind-up-like pain in phantom limb pain patients

Peripheral mechanisms are known to play a role in phantom pain following limb amputation, and more recently it has been suggested that central mechanisms may also be of importance. Some patients seem to have a psychological sensitivity that predisposes them to react with pain catastrophizing after amputation of a limb, and this coping style may contribute to increased facilitation, impaired modulation of nociceptive signals, or both. To investigate how pain catastrophizing, independently of anxiety and depression, may contribute to phantom limb pain and to alterations in pain processing twenty-four upper-limb amputees with various levels of phantom limb pain were included in the study. Patients’ level of pain catastrophizing, anxiety and depression was assessed and they went through quantitative sensory testing (QST) of thresholds (mechanical and thermal) and wind-up-like pain (brush and pinprick). Catastrophizing accounted for 35% of the variance in phantom limb pain (p = 0.001) independently of anxiety and depression. Catastrophizing was also positively associated with wind-up-like pain in non-medicated patients (p = 0.015), but not to pain thresholds. These findings suggest that cognitive-emotional sensitization contributes to the altered nociceptive processing seen in phantom limb pain patients. The possible interactions between pain catastrophizing, wind-up-like pain, and peripheral input in generating and maintaining phantom limb pain are discussed.     

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Phantom Limb Pain and Non-Painful Phantom Phenomena in a Nationwide Survey of 3,374 Unilateral Limb Amputees

The experience of phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common consequence of limb amputation, resulting in severe impairments of the affected person. Previous studies have shown that several factors such as age at or site of amputation are associated with the emergence and maintenance of PLP. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the presence of several phantom phenomena including PLP and other amputation-related information in a sample of 3,374 unilateral upper and lower limb amputees. Clinical and demographic variables (age at amputation, level of amputation) explained 10.6% of the variance in PLP and perceptual variables (intensity of phantom limb sensation [PLS], referred sensations, intensity of telescoping, residual limb pain [RLP] intensity) explained 16.9% of the variance. These variables were specific for PLP and not for RLP. These results suggest that distinct variables are associated with PLP (age at amputation, level of amputation, PLS intensity, referred sensations, intensity of telescoping, RLP intensity) and RLP (PLP intensity) and point at partly different mechanisms for the emergence and maintenance of PLP and RLP.PerspectiveClinical/demographic variables as well as perceptual variables are 2 major components related to PLP and explain ～11% and ～17% of the variance. These results could potentially help clinicians to understand which factors may contribute to chronic phantom limb pain.     

Evaluation of prosthetic usage in upper limb amputees

Purpose: Upper limb amputations cause severe functional disability and lower the patient's self body image, with severe psychological implications. Many parameters are involved in the successful rehabilitation of upper limb amputations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are any parameters that might predict the successful prosthetic rehabilitation of upper limb amputees.

Method: The records of 45 patients who had undergone an upper limb amputation were traced. The patients were evaluated according to four parameters: (1) Modified upper extremities amputees' questionnaire; (2) Pain level according to Visual Analog Scale (VAS), range from 1 (lowest) up to 10 (highest); (3) Pain type - phantom or pain in the stump; (4) Functional assessment of prosthetic usage.

Results: Thirty (71.43%) of the patients reported difficulties with prosthesis usage. Twenty-three patients (54.76%) were satisfied with their prosthesis - 19 had cosmetic prosthesis and four had body-powered prosthesis.

Conclusion: No significant affect of the amputation level except for trans-wrist amputation with 100% prosthesis use. No significant difference was found between prosthesis type and the correlation to stump problems.

The above-elbow amputees, with dominant hand amputation, who used functional prosthesis (body-powered), achieved the best functional outcome and result.     

Development of a scoring tool (BLARt score) to predict functional outcome in lower limb amputees

Purpose: To develop a valid preoperative scoring tool that predicts the probability of walking with a prosthetic limb after major lower limb amputation.

Methods: A retrospective review of 338 patients who had undergone lower limb amputation was conducted to identify characteristics that affected the success of rehabilitation with a prosthetic limb. These data were used to devise an assessment tool (the BLARt score), which was then tested and validated in 199 patients planned to undergo lower limb amputation in two UK regional centers. Functional rehabilitation outcomes were recorded at 12?months after surgery using the SIGAM mobility grading.

Results: No patient with a BLARt score?≥13 achieved good functional outcome (defined as independent mobility, SIGAM grade E or F) and only 6 patients with a BLARt score?≥17 achieved any functional outcome (defined as any ability to walk unaided, SIGAM grade C or greater).

Conclusions: In the patient cohorts studied, the BLARt assessment tool was a strong predictor of whether or not patients would be able to walk with a prosthetic limb after surgery. It is simple to administer and could be useful in clinical practice to inform expectations for patients and clinicians.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Patients undergoing lower limb amputation face major physical and psychological challenges after surgery that have a considerable impact on rehabilitation and their ability to walk independently.

• Many amputees are unable to walk with a prosthetic limb, but there are no validated tools to predict this before surgery.

• The BLARt is a potentially valuable measure that can predict the likelihood of being unable to walk after amputation.

• It is simple to use and could be useful to inform patients’ and clinicians’ expectations before surgery.

     

Relationship between mechanical sensitivity and postamputation pain: a prospective study.

Limb amputation is followed by stump and phantom pain in a large proportion of amputees and postamputation pain may be associated with signs of hyperexcitability such as hyperalgesia to mechanical stimulation. The present study examined the possible relationship between mechanical pain threshold of the limb and early (after 1 week) and late (after 6 months) phantom pain. Thirty-five patients scheduled for amputation of the lower limb were examined before, 1 week and 6 months after amputation. On all three examination days pressure-pain thresholds were measured and compared with the simultaneous recording of ongoing pain intensity assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS). There was a weak but significant inverse relationship between preamputation thresholds and early stump and phantom pain. There was no relationship between preamputation thresholds and late stump and phantom pain. One week after amputation there was a significant and inverse relationship between mechanical thresholds and phantom pain but no relationship was found after 6 months. The findings suggest that although tenderness of the limb before and after amputation is related to early stump and phantom pain, the relationship is weak. Neuronal sensitization peripherally or centrally may play a role in the development of phantom pain.     

Lumbopelvic manipulation in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: A recent clinical prediction rule (CPR) identified characteristics that may predict an immediate reduction in pain following lumbopelvic manipulation in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The purpose of this single-arm cohort study was to replicate the proposed CPR in a different population and investigate changes in self-reported pain, hip range of motion, strength, and function immediately following lumbopelvic manipulation.

Methods: Forty-four subjects (63·6% female; mean age 27·4 years) met inclusion criteria. Hip internal rotation range of motion, lower extremity strength using a handheld dynamometer, and single/triple hop tests were assessed prior to and immediately following a spinal manipulation. A global rating of change questionnaire was administered after testing and telephonically at 1 week. Paired t-tests compared pre- and post-manipulation range of motion, strength, and hop test limb symmetry indices (α?=?0·05).

Results: Fifty-seven percent of subjects had a successful outcome measured by the numerical pain rating scale immediately following manipulation. Twenty-five of subjects experienced a successful outcome as measured by the global rating of change questionnaire at 1 week. No single individual or combination of predictor variables predicted a positive outcome immediately following the lumbopelvic manipulation (+likelihood ratio 0·7 with three of five predictor variables present). Statistically significant differences (P<0·05) were found in hip extension and abduction strength and hip internal rotation symmetry post-manipulation, but do not appear to be clinically meaningful.

Discussion: The previously identified CPR was not able to be replicated and no clinically meaningful changes in range of motion, strength, or function were apparent. Future research should focus on a comprehensive impairment-based treatment approach in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.