1 / 5

Phantom Limb Pain & Visceral Stimulation in Military Amputees: Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study by Michael Rafferty, MRCS; Thomas M. Bennett Britton, MRCGP; Benjamin T. Drew, MCSP; and Rhodri D. Phillip, FRCP, aims to investigate the alteration in phantom limb pain intensity in military personnel with amputations. Findings revealed a high prevalence of phantom limb pain (85%), with 56% reporting changes in pain severity with visceral stimuli. The study recorded mean increases in visual analog scale (VAS) scores for bladder and bowel stimulation. Results indicated that symptoms improved over time, with higher VAS scores observed in those less than 6 months post-amputation. This research emphasizes the common issue of increased phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation among military amputees.

lreynolds
Download Presentation

Phantom Limb Pain & Visceral Stimulation in Military Amputees: Cross-Sectional Study

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Cross-sectional study of alteration of phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation in military personnel with ampuatation Michael Rafferty, MRCS; Thomas M. Bennett Britton, MRCGP; Benjamin T. Drew, MCSP; Rhodri D. Phillip, FRCP

  2. Aim • Investigate the prevalence of the alteration in phantom limb pain intensity. • Relevance • Clinical experience suggests that the augmentation of phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation (sensation of the bowel or bladder either filling or evacuating) is an issue for many military personnel with amputation.

  3. Method • Cross-sectional study of 75 military personnel who have lost one or both lower limbs. • Participants completed questionnaire to assess the prevalence of the alteration of phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation. • Included visual analog scale (VAS) graded 0 to 10. • Recorded presence and intensity of phantom limb pain. • Recorded whether and how pain altered with a need to micturate or micturition, and/or a need to defecate or defecation. • Time since amputation, level of amputation, and medications also recorded.

  4. Results • Phantom limb pain prevalence of 85% with a mean VAS of 3.6. • 56% reported a change in the severity of phantom limb pain with visceral stimuli. • Mean bladder stimulation VAS increase: 2.5 ± 1.6. • Mean bowel stimulation VAS increase: 2.9 ± 2.0. • 65% reported improvement in symptoms over time. • VAS scores highest in those less than 6 mo postamputation.

  5. Conclusion • An increase in phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation is a common problem for military personnel with amputation.

More Related