The expansion and validation of a new upper extremity item bank for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS).

Background: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS) includes a Physical Function (PF) item bank and an Upper Extremity (UE) item bank, which is composed of a subset of items from the PF bank. The UE item bank has few items and known ceiling effects. Therefore, this study aimed to expand the item bank to assess a wider range of functioning.

The Impact of Surgical Amputation and Valproic Acid on Pain and Functional Trajectory: Results from the Veterans Integrated Pain Evaluation Research (VIPER) Randomized, Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine if the perioperative administration of valproic acid reduces the incidence of chronic pain three months after amputation or revision surgery.

Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Academic, military, and veteran medical centers.

Differential expression of systemic inflammatory mediators in amputees with chronic residual limb pain.

Chronic postsurgical pain impacts most amputees, with more than half experiencing neuralgic residual limb pain. The transition from normal acute postamputation pain to chronic residual limb pain likely involves both peripheral and central inflammatory mechanisms. As part of the Veterans Integrated Pain Evaluation Research study, we investigated links between systemic inflammatory mediator levels and chronic residual limb pain.

Psychometric Testing of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS): A New Pain Scale for Military Population.

Objective: The Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS 2.0) is a pain assessment tool that utilizes a numerical rating scale enhanced by functional word descriptors, color coding, and pictorial facial expressions matched to pain levels. Four supplemental questions measure how much pain interferes with usual activity and sleep, and affects mood and contributes to stress.

Pain Phenotypes and Associated Clinical Risk Factors Following Traumatic Amputation: Results from Veterans Integrated Pain Evaluation Research (VIPER).

Objective: To define clinical phenotypes of postamputation pain and identify markers of risk for the development of chronic pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study of military service members enrolled 3-18 months after traumatic amputation injury.

Setting: Military Medical Center.