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. The Houghton scale was used to assess functional use of the prosthesis. The PEQ was used for pain assessment.

RESULTS

The results show that, in lower limb amputees, prosthesis use is greater in individuals with below-the-knee amputation and in those who were younger at the time of amputation. No significant correlation between the presence of pain syndromes (PLS, PLP, RLP) and the various items on the Houghton scale was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found no significant correlation indicating that phantom limb pain syndromes affect amputee use of a prosthesis in the long term follow up.