A systematic review on the treatment of phantom limb pain with spinal cord stimulation

Abstract

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a challenging chronic pain syndrome to treat with pharmacologic agents being first line of management. However, when these agents fail to provide pain relief, other interventions must be considered in a clinical setting. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been shown to provide analgesia in PLP, and should be considered by clinicians. Methods: This PRISMA systematic review analyzes the efficacy of SCS for treatment of PLP. Results: After review of 12 studies, there are mixed results to base a conclusion on. Discussion: While there is some evidence of efficacy, due to the relatively small number of patients in each study, further research is needed to demonstrate the benefits of SCS for PLP.