Is mirror therapy associated with progressive muscle relaxation more effective than mirror therapy alone in reducing phantom limb pain in patients with lower limb amputation?

Mirror therapy is a widely used treatment for phantom limb pain (PLP) relief in patients with limb loss. Less common is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), used mostly in other medical conditions (psychological, terminal cancer pain, etc). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a mirror therapy preceded by PMR intervention compared to mirror therapy preceded by unguided generic relaxation-mirror therapy in patients with lower limb amputation suffering from PLP.

Do chronic pain syndromes in lower limb amputees have an effect on the use of prostheses?

Background: The use of a prosthesis is critical to regain the ability to walk in lower limb amputees but the relationship between the use of a prosthesis and chronic pain syndromes (PLS, PLP, RLP), common in amputees patients, is still poorly understood.

Objective: This long-term follow-up study investigates the possible correlation between prosthesis use and the presence of PLP, PLS and RLP in lower limb amputees.

Methods: Patients undergoing transtibial, transfemoral or hemipelvectomy amputation of any aetiology at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute from 2008 to 2018 were included.

Chronic pain in lower limb amputees: Is there a correlation with the use of perioperative epidural or perineural analgesia?

Background: Chronic pain is common in patients who undergo lower limb amputation. The use of epidural or perineural catheters seems to reduce acute pain after surgery but their effects in a longer follow up are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term prevalence of phantom limb sensation (PLS), phantom limb pain (PLP), and residual limb pain (RLP) and their correlation with perioperative use of epidural or perineural catheters.