The Use of Prolonged Peripheral Neural Blockade After Lower Extremity Amputation: The Effect on Symptoms Associated with Phantom Limb Syndrome

Battista Borghi, MD†, 

Marco D'Addabbo, MD*†, 

Paul F. White, MD, PhD‡§, 

Pina Gallerani, RN†, 

Letizia Toccaceli, MD†, 

William Raffaeli, MD#, 

Andrea Tognù, MD†, 

Nicola Fabbri, MD¶ and 

Mario Mercuri, MD¶

+Author Affiliations

1. Authors' affiliations are listed at the end of the article.

1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Paul F. White, MD, PhD, 144 Ashby Lane, Los Altos, CA 94022. Address e-mail topaul.white@policlinicoabano.it andwhitemountaininstitute@hotmail.com.

 

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Phantom limb syndrome (PLS) is common after limb amputations, involving up to 90% of amputees. Although many different therapies have been evaluated, none has been found to be highly effective. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of a prolonged perineural infusion of a high concentration of local anesthetic solution in preventing PLS.

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