A new interventional radiology technique is showing promise in relieving chronic pain at the site of amputated limbs, according to research presented at this week's Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) meeting.
Called phantom limb pain, the condition is known to plague military veterans wounded in combat, as well as people with complex medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes. Nearly 200,000 amputations are performed each year, according to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But interventional radiology could help. A group from Emory University in Atlanta has developed a technique that uses cryoablation to improve the quality of life of those living with phantom limb pain. The technique uses image guidance to direct a cryoablation probe to the site of nerve and scar tissue in the residual limb; an ablation zone is then created by reducing the temperature of the tissue for 25 minutes.
The Emory researchers tested the technique in 20 patients. They also asked the patients to rate their pain on a scale from 1 (not painful) to 10 (extremely painful) before, seven days after, and 45 days after the intervention.
Before cryoablation, patients reported an average pain score of 6.4 points. By day 45, the average score was 2.4 points.
The researchers plan to further investigate cryoablation by tracking its effectiveness at six months after treatment and beyond. Lead researcher Dr. David Prologo said the group has applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in the hopes of benefiting the thousands of veterans who have had limbs amputated and may experience phantom limb pain.
