Pre- and postoperative predictors of phantom limb pain

We report that acute and chronic pain long before but not on the day before the amputation and subacute pain postamputation significantly predicted up to half of the variance in the incidence and severity of PLP, RLP and PLS 12 months postamputation. Moreover, the severity of these painful sensations at 12 months postamputation was partially predicted by preamputation scores of depression and anxiety. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that chronic pain and non-painful sensations following limb amputation are strongly related to longstanding preoperative chronic pain and to subacute postoperative pain as well as to psychological factors before the amputation that may be inherited and/or acquired (learning- and memory-related). Furthermore, we also confirm that subacute pain postamputation comprises an additional risk factor for long-term painful sensations postamputation. Our results suggest that timely interventions might prevent the development of chronic pain.
Source: Neuroscience Letters - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research