A literature review regarding the prevalence, characteristics, and factors influencing pain in persons with lower-limb amputations found back pain and residual limb pain occur in more than 50 percent of the cohort and that both pain types are positively associated.
Researchers searched using PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PEDro, and included studies that described pain other than phantom limb pain at least three months after amputation. For residual limb pain and back pain, a meta-regression was performed.
Fifty-one studies were included in which predominantly young males with unilateral traumatic amputations who used a prosthesis were investigated. Pooled prevalence of residual limb pain was 0.51 with a positive association with the presence of back pain in the univariate meta-regression. Pooled prevalence of back pain was 0.55, with a positive association of time since amputation and co-occurrence of residual limb pain.
The researchers suggested that clinicians should be aware that chronic pain is common after lower-limb amputation and can have a significant impact on function.
The open-access study, More than half of persons with lower limb amputation suffer from chronic back pain or residual limb pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis, was published in Disability and Rehabilitation.
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