PATHOGENESIS AND THERAPY OF PHANTOM LIMB PAIN

Many post traumatic amputees suffer from phantom limb pain which must be distinguished from limb pain and from feelings of the phantom limb. According to an inquiry of OVST Essen, 91,2% of the patients suffer from phantom limb pain which is different from the results of universal literature (1-50%). Genesis of phantom limb pain hasn't been cleared up yet. Generally aggravating factors like limb and sensitivities to changes of weather are known. These and other influences are based on the study by T.V. Steinbach et al., Tel Aviv 1982. According to the different theories of genesis, recommends for medical therapy of phantom limb pain are known as well as surgical procedure.