Article

The incidence and clinical picture of non-painful and painful phantom limb
sensations as well as stump pain was studied in 58 patients 8 days and 6 months
after limb amputation. The incidence of non-painful phantom limb, phantom pain
and stump pain 8 days after surgery was 84, 72 and 57%, respectively. Six months
after amputation the corresponding figures were 90, 67 and 22%, respectively.
Kinaesthetic sensations (feeling of length, volume or other spatial sensation of
the affected limb) were present in 85% of the patients with phantom limb both
immediately after surgery and 6 months later. However, 30% noticed a clear
shortening of the phantom during the follow-up period; this was usually among
patients with no phantom pain. Phantom pain was significantly more frequent in
patients with pain in the limb the day before amputation than in those without
preoperative limb pain. Of the 67% having some phantom pain at the latest
interview 50% reported that pains were decreasing. Four patients (8%), however,
reported that phantom pains were worse 6 months after amputation than originally.
During the follow-up period the localization of phantom pains shifted from a
proximal and distal distribution to a more distal localization. While knifelike,
sticking phantom pains were most common immediately after surgery, squeezing or
burning types of phantom pain were usually reported later in the course. Possible
mechanisms for the present findings either in periphery, spinal cord or in the
brain are discussed.

Langue : ANGLAIS