Replies are still coming in for the original problem so I will post them
when I have them all….thanks to those who have already contributed.
A few points to clarify my original post:
1. My patient had his injury nine years ago.
2. He has since had nerve root blocks (chemical) and surgery for the pain,
to little apparent effect
3.Extensive involvement with a Pain Clinic has not made a big difference;
chemical analgesia, TENS, acupuncture etc all having been tried.
4. He has been assured that amputation will in all likelihood make no
difference to his pain and may in fact add new elements to it.
5. He has considered amputation only for the fact of eliminating the
“nuisance” value of his flail arm.
6. The hand has atrophied over the years, but would probably still be
retrievable for a tenodesis type orthosis, operated by the contralateral
shoulder.
regards, Richard
