Frequency of phantom limb pain and stump pain in amputees during the first six months following limb amputation

Objective: To determine the prevalence of phantom limb pain and stump pain in amputees during first six months of amputation and to examine the intensity of phantom limb pain and stump pain with the passage of time.Methodology: It was cross sectional survey conducted from 16th May to 30th November 2019 at District Head Quarter hospital and Allied hospital Faisalabad during first six months of amputation. Total 80 patients including both gender and age ranging from 18 - 75 years were enrolled in the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire named "Phantom and stump pain questionnaire in amputees. And data was analyzed by using SPSS 20.Results: It was observed that 45 (56.25%) were males and 35 (43.75%) were females. In this study 22 (27.50%) patients were presented with upper limb amputation and 58 (72.50%) were with lower limb amputation. Findings of this study showed that the prevalence of phantom limb pain was 48 (60%) and stump pain was 52 (65%) and their intensity decreased with the passage of time because a negative correlation was found between two variables "duration since amputation and phantom pain" (r =-0.76, p = .000) and "duration since amputation and stump pain" (r =-0.49, p = .000). Stump pain was most common in traumatic cause of amputation and phantom limb pain was seen more in patient with amputation due to diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.Conclusion: It was concluded that phantom limb pain and stump pain appeared to be common in patients after upper and lower limb amputation during first six months of amputation and it was reported that the intensity of pain decreases gradually with the passage of time.Keywords: Amputation, Phantom limb, Peripheral vascular disease.