title: Phantom limb pain and etiology of amputation in unilateral lower extremity amputees.
abstract: The relationships between phantom limb pain and both the etiology of amputation (blood clots, nonclot diabetes, and miscellaneous) and the occurrence of gangrene and/or infection were investigated in 92 unilateral lower extremity (LE) amputees who were seen sequentially. There were 55 above-knee (AK) and 37 below-knee (BK) amputations in 61 men and 31 women. The mean age was 51.4 years. The blood-clot etiology had the highest levels of phantom pain both pre- and postrehabilitation, the longest time interval between amputation and prosthetic fitting, and the greatest number of medical conditions. The nonclot diabetes and miscellaneous etiologies followed in order. A history of gangrene and/or infection was associated with higher levels of pain and longer time interval between amputation and prosthetic fitting.
authors.affiliation: Prosthetic and Orthotic Studies, New York University Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery