Radiofrequency thermocoagulation worked well for phantom limb pain and stump pain

Abstract

Treatment of phantom limb pain and stump pain remains difficult. This case report describes successful management of phantom limb pain and stump pain using radiofrequency thermocoagulation. A woman in her 70s lost her left arm at the forearm while at work 1 year ago. When we first saw her, she felt a phantom limb tightly clenched and lightning pain in its fingers. She also felt allodynia on the stump. We diagnosed phantom limb pain and stump pain. After Kampo medicine treatment for 1 year and 6 months, the phantom hand was unclenched, but the lightning pain on the phantom fingers and the stump pain remained. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided radiofrequency thermalcoagulation at 80℃ for 180 s to the median nerve. Six months later, frequency of the lightning pain was significantly decreased, and the stump pain disappeared.