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Evaluation of (a) the incidence of phantom limb pain after a lower limb amputation, (b) the influence of either general or epidural anaesthesia on the incidence, and (c) the different kinds of therapies applied.Retrospective.Department of Anaesthesiology, Academic Hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.All 45 patients who had undergone a lower limb amputation in the period 1985-1994, and whose amputation had taken place at least 6 months earlier received a questionnaire. The level of the phantom limb pain was measured using a Visual Analogue Scale.33 Patients returned the questionnaire. 85% suffered from phantom limb pain; 20 patients were still suffering at the time of replying to the questionnaire. The pain sensation was mostly characterized as "cramping'. The physicians told 42% of the patients that nothing could be done to relieve the pain. Other patients were given all different kinds of therapies. The type of anaesthesia, general or regional anaesthesia, did not influence the incidence of phantom limb pain.After lower limb amputations there was a high incidence of long lasting phantom limb pain. Therapy showed a large variability and a considerable failure rate. Further research into prevention and treatment of phantom pain is urgently needed. |
