PHANTOM PAIN TREATMENT IN PACIENTS SUBMITTED TO AMPUTATION: A REVIEW OF CLINICAL AND REHABILITATION APPROACHES

Authors

  • Luiz Fernando Martins de SOUZA FILHO Universidade Estadual de Goiás Liga de Marcha
  • Jordana Campos Martins de OLIVEIRA Universidade Estadual de Goiás
  • Ana Cristina Ferreira GARCIA Medica Fisiatra no Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) e na Fisiatrica
  • Flavia Martins GERVÁSIO Docente na UEG, Coordenadora do Laboratório de Movimento – UEG, Coordenadora da Liga de Marcha

Abstract

Introduction: Phantom limb pain is a common sequel of amputation and difficult-to-treat condition. It compromises the amputees’ acquisition of skills and quality of life, which justifies the establishment of an effective treatment. Objective: To identify and describe the clinical and/or rehabilitation interventions to treat phantom limb pain in patients who underwent amputations. Material and Methods: This was a literature review of articles published in the electronic databases Pubmed and Bireme between 2003 and 2014 (except classical literature). We selected complete scientific papers available in full in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Results: Seven different types of treatment for phantom limb pain were identified. Two out of the eight papers included addressed the same physical therapy approach. Therefore, the therapeutic modalities were classified as invasive measures associated or not to pharmacological (four articles) and physical therapies (four articles). All therapeutic modalities identified in the review were proved to be beneficial in ameliorating phantom pain, as follows: intravenous infusion of lidocaine followed by thoracic sympathetic chain blockage; replacement of the pharmacological therapy by a ziconotide intrathecal injection pump; continuous sciatic blockage; use of gabapentin preoperatively; mirror box therapy; practice-oriented exercises; and application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Conclusion: The most frequently reported and used therapeutic measures were drug therapy, invasive therapy and physical therapy. However, there was no consensus in the literature about the best therapeutic option to treat phantom limb pain. DESCRIPTORS Phantom Limb Pain. Amputation. Physical Therapy Modalities.

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Author Biographies

Luiz Fernando Martins de SOUZA FILHO, Universidade Estadual de Goiás Liga de Marcha

Bacharel em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Estadual de Goiás

Jordana Campos Martins de OLIVEIRA, Universidade Estadual de Goiás

Bacharel em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Estadual de Goiás

Ana Cristina Ferreira GARCIA, Medica Fisiatra no Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) e na Fisiatrica

Medica Fisiatra no Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) e na Fisiatrica

Flavia Martins GERVÁSIO, Docente na UEG, Coordenadora do Laboratório de Movimento – UEG, Coordenadora da Liga de Marcha

Docente na UEG, Coordenadora do Laboratório de Movimento – UEG, Coordenadora da Liga de Marcha

Published

2016-08-04

How to Cite

SOUZA FILHO, L. F. M. de, OLIVEIRA, J. C. M. de, GARCIA, A. C. F., & GERVÁSIO, F. M. (2016). PHANTOM PAIN TREATMENT IN PACIENTS SUBMITTED TO AMPUTATION: A REVIEW OF CLINICAL AND REHABILITATION APPROACHES. Revista Brasileira De Ciências Da Saúde, 20(3), 241–246. Retrieved from https://periodicos.ufpb.br/index.php/rbcs/article/view/22089

Issue

Section

Review