Residual limbs of amputees are significantly cooler than contralateral intact limbs.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that distal residual limbs (DRLs) have significant vasomotor abnormalities.


METHODS
Comparative surface temperature studies of DRLs using paired samples (DRL vs. similar site on intact contralateral limb).


METHODS
Thirty-six volunteer subjects with unilateral, upper or lower limb amputations were recruited and evaluated at a pain research center in an urban academic rehabilitation facility.


METHODS
Our main outcomes were subjects' residual limb temperature as measured by quantitative infrared telethermography (qIRT), temperature strips, and examiner's palpation, compared with the contralateral limb.


RESULTS
The qIRT showed that the DRLs were significantly cooler than the corresponding area of the contralateral intact limbs (P < 0.01). The difference using temperature strips supported this finding (P < 0.05); while on physical examination, 39% of the residual limbs were perceived by the examiner as cooler than the corresponding unaffected limbs.


CONCLUSIONS
DRLs as measured by qIRT were significantly cooler than the corresponding area of the contralateral intact limbs. A better understanding of these findings may be important in elucidating the pathophysiology of relevant clinical features such as a potential sympathetic component of postamputation pain.
The Center for Pain Studies, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. nharden@ric.org
R Norman
RN
Harden
Christine M
CM
Gagnon
Michael
M
Gallizzi
Anjum S
AS
Khan
Devon
D
Newman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology