Review 10.1172/JCI94003

A review of current theories and treatments for phantom limb pain

Kassondra L. Collins,1 Hannah G. Russell,2 Patrick J. Schumacher,2 Katherine E. Robinson-Freeman,2 Ellen C. O’Conor,2 Kyla D. Gibney,2 Olivia Yambem,2 Robert W. Dykes,3 Robert S. Waters,1 and Jack W. Tsao2,4,5

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Collins, K. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Russell, H. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Schumacher, P. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Robinson-Freeman, K. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by O’Conor, E. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Gibney, K. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Yambem, O. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Dykes, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Waters, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and

2Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

4Department of Neurology, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

5Children’s Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Address correspondence to: Jack W. Tsao, Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 415, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. Phone: 901.448.7674; Email: jtsao@uthsc.edu.

Find articles by Tsao, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

First published June 1, 2018 - More info

Published in Volume 128, Issue 6 on June 1, 2018
J Clin Invest. 2018;128(6):2168–2176. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI94003.
Copyright © 2018, American Society for Clinical Investigation

First published June 1, 2018 - Version history

Following amputation, most amputees still report feeling the missing limb and often describe these feelings as excruciatingly painful. Phantom limb sensations (PLS) are useful while controlling a prosthesis; however, phantom limb pain (PLP) is a debilitating condition that drastically hinders quality of life. Although such experiences have been reported since the early 16th century, the etiology remains unknown. Debate continues regarding the roles of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Currently, the most posited mechanistic theories rely on neuronal network reorganization; however, greater consideration should be given to the role of the dorsal root ganglion within the peripheral nervous system. This Review provides an overview of the proposed mechanistic theories as well as an overview of various treatments for PLP.

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