View clinical trials related to Phantom Limb.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy of novel interventions in post-amputation surgical care (specifically Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface) on post-amputation pain and functional outcomes at the time of amputation. These novel interventions have been shown to be successful in treating the downstream effects of amputations (pain, phantom limb pain, neuroma pain, etc.), but has not been studied in a randomized manner at the time of amputation.
The purpose of this project is to further investigate the use of Virtual Mirror therapy for alleviating symptoms of chronic phantom limb pain. This initial pilot study will inform a fully powered randomized control trial which will include both upper and lower extremity amputees
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a frequent consequence of amputation, and it is notoriously difficult to treat. Amputation usually follows traumatic injuries or surgery following vascular diseases, diabetes, osteomyelitis or tumours in cases where the loss of the limb is required for the survival of the patient. The loss of a limb or other body parts is usually followed by the sensation that the lost body part is still present and can be felt. These phenomena are called, respectively, phantom awareness and phantom sensation. In 50-80% of amputees neuropathic pain develops in the lost limb also referred to as phantom limb pain (PLP). PLP can be related to a certain position or movement of the phantom limb, and might be elicited or worsened by a range of physical factors (e.g. changes in the weather or pressure on the residual limb) and psychological factors (e.g. emotional stress). It is well known that most treatments available for PLP today, such as pharmacological, surgical, anaesthetic, psychological and other, are ineffective. Today it is believed that phantom limb pain may be related to changes in the cortex of the brain. There is evidence that these changes may be modulated - or even reversed - by providing sensory input to the stump or amputation zone. For example, cortical reorganization and alleviation of phantom limb pain has been observed in amputees following intense use of a hand prosthesis. However, there is no consistent knowledge on which type of peripheral sensory feedback may be effective in affecting the cortical plasticity or on how to best apply the sensory feedback. The aim of the proposed research is to create natural, meaningful sensations through providing invasive sensory feedback (i.e. electrical stimulation through intraneural implantation of electrodes) and the effectiveness to alleviate phantom limb pain and restore the cortical neuroplastic changes.
Phantom limb pain (PLP) and scar hyperalgesia (SH) are frequent problems after amputation; in particular most persons who undergo limb amputation will experience phantom pain. The neuropathic nature of PLP suggests the involvement of both peripheral and central neurological mechanisms, including neuroplastic changes in the central nervous system. PLP as other central nervous system-related pain syndromes remains a challenge for treatment. Scar hyperalgesia involves peripheral mechanisms and results frim the production of substances liberated by damaged skin cells. These inflammatory substances lower the pain threshold by altering the chemical environment of skin nerve endings. Scan hyperalgesia is associated with secondary mechanical hyperalgesia in the skin area around the scar. The lidocaine patch 5% is a topical analgesic acting by blocking sodium channels of peripheral nerve endings and by inhibiting ectopic discharges in sensitized and hyperactive cutaneous nociceptors. The patch is noninvasive, with minimal systemic absorption resulting in a reduced risk of drug-drug interaction. In addition, a central analgesic effect of lidocaine has been suggested. The lidocaine patch 5% is currently licensed for the treatment of symptomatic postherpetic neuralgia. It also has been successfully used in patients with other neuropathic pain states, such as entrapment neuropathies, painful idiopathic distal sensory polyneuropathies and postoperative/post traumatic neuropathic chronic cutaneous pain. The lidocaine patch has not been studied for the management and prevention of phantom limb pain. The aim of the present research is to investigate if a lidocaine patch 5% is effective for reducing PLP and primary/secondary scar hyperalgesia. The hypothesis is that persistent peripheral nociceptive input from the stump after surgery may drive maladaptive cortical reorganization leading to chronic central pain and thus promote chronic phantom limb pain. Treating scar hyperalgesia on the stump with topical lidocaine may reduce the activity of peripheral nociceptive afferents and thus decrease the likelihood of developing persistent phantom limb pain. This study is designed as a randomized controlled multicentric double blind trial, in which the effectiveness of applying a 5% lidocaine patch for 6 weeks will be compared with a sham.
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is as painful sensations located to the missing limb and classified as neuropathic pain. In the United States, an estimated 1.7 million patients have undergone limb amputation, and 60% to 80% of these patients develop PLP (1-2) and it is usually resistant to a wide variety of treatments (1-4). Three factors may contribute to the development of persistent, post-amputation PLP by inducing central sensitization at different times relative to surgery: pre-amputation pain, noxious intraoperative stimuli, and acute postoperative pain (5-7). Investigators hypothesis that pre-amputation period could be important in eliminating Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) in the patients in whom cortical reorganization is not yet established. The reduction of pre-operative pain and prevention of formation of pain memories may eliminate development of PLP by using dual networks treatment strategy. This Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of pre-operative pregabalin (lyrica) and ketamine in eliminating phantom limb pain in patients undergoing lower limb amputation.
Background: - Many people who lose a limb feel pain in the missing limb. This feeling is called phantom limb pain. Researchers do not fully understand what causes this pain. Differences in people's genes may play a role. Comparing the genes of people with and without phantom limb pain may help researchers better understand this feeling, who is likely to develop it, and how to treat it. Objectives: - To study whether genetic differences affect phantom limb pain. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have lost an arm or leg at least 3 months ago. Design: - Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. - Participants will answer questions about how they lost the limb, and whether they feel phantom limb pain. They will also have a test to measure their sensitivity to heat and cold. - Participants will provide a blood sample for genetic testing.