Pain after amputation

Abstract

Amputation of a body part, whether as a result of trauma or surgical intervention, is almost always associated with awareness of, and sensations referred to, the missing body part. These sensations were first noted by Ambroise Pare, a French military surgeon in the middle of the 16th century. Mitchel first used the term ‘phantom’ in 1871 from his observations and medical studies of the American civil war. Three phenomena occur after amputation – (i) phantom sensation, (ii) stump pain and (iii) phantom pain. While limbs are most commonly involved, the same problems can occur with teeth, breast and rectum.