Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Brachial Plexus for Intractable Phantom Pain of the Upper Extremity: A Case Report.

Phantom limb pain is a common condition occurring after amputations. Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been reported to provide analgesia for established lower extremity phantom pain. However, this modality has never been applied to upper extremity phantom pain. A patient presented with acute exacerbation of established upper extremity phantom pain 2 years following forequarter amputation. A percutaneous PNS lead placed adjacent to the patient's brachial plexus under ultrasound guidance provided analgesia of the phantom pain for several weeks. PNS of the brachial plexus may provide analgesia for patients with upper extremity phantom pain.