Peripheral nerve stimulation for the management of acute and subacute post-amputation pain: a randomized, controlled feasibility trial
Brooke Albright-Trainer, Thomas Phan, Robert J Trainer, Nathan D Crosby, Douglas P Murphy, Peter Disalvo, Michael Amendola, Denise D Lester, Brooke Albright-Trainer, Thomas Phan, Robert J Trainer, Nathan D Crosby, Douglas P Murphy, Peter Disalvo, Michael Amendola, Denise D Lester
Abstract
Introduction & aim: Temporary (60-day) percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of chronic post-amputation pain, and this pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of temporary percutaneous PNS for the treatment of acute post-amputation pain. Patients & methods: Sixteen veterans undergoing lower extremity amputation received PNS and standard medical therapy or standard medical therapy alone. Results: The PNS group reported greater reductions in average phantom limb pain, residual limb pain and daily opioid consumption, and there were fewer participants taking opioids through 3 months post-amputation. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that PNS is feasible in the acute postoperative period following lower limb amputation and may provide a non-pharmacologic analgesic therapy that lowers pain scores and reduces opioid consumption, and thus warrants further investigation.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03484429.
Keywords: leg amputation surgery; neuromodulation; opioids; peripheral nerve stimulation; phantom limb pain; residual limb pain.
Source: PubMed