Phantom limb correlates among amputee war veterans

Phantom limb and phantom pain are amongst the most common problems in amputees. A relatively large number of war veterans with an amputated limbs suffer from these complications. We aimed to determine the frequency ofphantom pain and phantom sensation among Iranian war victims as well as defining their determinant factors. We assessed all war victim patient charts in Khatam Al-Aanbia Hospital during the second half of 2010. Frequency of phantom pain and sensation and some related indicators such as demographic factors, history of prosthesis use, depression and anxiety were determined. 96 files were reviewed with the patients’ mean age of 46.2±7.9 years having experienced amputation at the mean age of 23.03± 7.8 years. Forty patients (%41.7) had phantom pain and 27 cases (%28.4) reported phantom sensation while 39 patients (%40.6) had stump pain. Phantom pain and sensation were more frequent in the upper extremities. The study could not detect any association between the side and level of amputation and depression or anxiety, and neither with phantom pain or sensation. The use of prosthesis significantly correlated with decreased phantom pain. Phantom pain appeared to be quite prevalent among amputee war veterans even several years after the event. The use of prosthesis seems to lower the incidence of phantom pain and phantom sensation. Although some complication of amputation including phantom sensation and phantom limb tend to remain for several years, depression does not seem to play a crucial role in this respect.