@article{9b610b12def947e9b86e241d978d9305,
title = "Treating intractable phantom limb pain with ambulatory continuous peripheral nerve blocks: A pilot study",
abstract = "Background: There is currently no reliable treatment for phantom limb pain (PLP). Chronic PLP and associated cortical abnormalities may be maintained from abnormal peripheral input, raising the possibility that a continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) of extended duration may permanently reorganize cortical pain mapping, thus providing lasting relief. Methods.: Three men with below-the-knee (2) or -elbow (1) amputations and intractable PLP received femoral/sciatic or infraclavicular perineural catheter(s), respectively. Subjects were randomized in a double-masked fashion to receive perineural ropivacaine (0.5%) or normal saline for over 6 days as outpatients using portable electronic infusion pumps. Four months later, subjects returned for repeated perineural catheter insertion and received an ambulatory infusion with the alternate solution ({"}crossover{"}). Subjects were followed for up to 1 year. Results.: By chance, all three subjects received saline during their initial infusion and reported little change in their PLP. One subject did not receive crossover treatment, but the remaining two subjects reported complete resolution of their PLP during and immediately following treatment with ropivacaine. One subject experienced no PLP recurrence through the 52-week follow-up period and the other reported mild PLP occurring once each week of just a small fraction of his original pain (pretreatment: continuous PLP rated 10/10; posttreatment: no PLP at baseline with average of one PLP episode each week rated 2/10) for 12 weeks (lost to follow-up thereafter). Conclusions.: A prolonged ambulatory CPNB may be a reliable treatment for intractable PLP. The results of this pilot study suggest that a large, randomized clinical trial is warranted.",
keywords = "Chronic pain, Persistent pain, Persistent post-surgical pain, Persistent postsurgical pain",
author = "Ilfeld, {Brian M.} and Tobias Moeller-Bertram and Hanling, {Steven R.} and Kyle Tokarz and Mariano, {Edward R.} and Loland, {Vanessa J.} and Madison, {Sarah J.} and Ferguson, {Eliza J.} and Morgan, {Anya C.} and Wallace, {Mark S.}",
note = "Funding Information: Financial Support: Funding for this project provided by the National Institutes of Health grant GM077026 (P.I.: Dr. Ilfeld) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (Bethesda, Maryland); the Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego (San Diego, CA), with funding provided by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources grant UL1RR031980 ; the University of California Academic Senate (P.I.: Dr. Ilfeld; San Diego, CA); the Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego (San Diego, California); and Summit Medical (Salt Lake City, Utah) provided both an unrestricted research grant and the infusion pumps used in this investigation. This company had no input into any aspect of study conceptualization, design, and implementation; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; or manuscript preparation. The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the funding entities. The views expressed herein are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Navy, Department of Defense, or the US Government. Funding Information: In conclusion, a prolonged ambulatory CPNB may be a reliable treatment for intractable PLP. The results of this pilot study suggest that a large, randomized clinical trial is warranted. Such a multicenter study has been funded by the United States Department of Defense through a 4-year Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program grant; will begin enrollment in 2013; and has an anticipated completion date of 2016. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2013",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1111/pme.12080",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "14",
pages = "935--942",
journal = "Pain Medicine",
issn = "1526-2375",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "6",
}