Introduction:

Limb amputation often gives rise to sensory alterations, painful or not, such as phantom limb syndrome, which hinders the rehabilitation process and affects the patient's psychological state. Phantom limb pain has been described as a condition in which patients experience a painful sensation in the missing limb.

Objective:

To describe essential aspects of phantom pain as a complication in amputee patients.

Methods:

A search of the literature published between January 2015 and December 2021 that referred to phantom limb pain in amputee patients was carried out.

Results:

Among the causes that lead to the amputation of a limb are vascular problems, trauma, cancer and congenital alterations, it is important to take them into consideration due to the psychological and socioeconomic effects that they can have on the patient. Phantom limb syndrome is divided into phantom limb or sensation, phantom limb pain, and painful stump. It is important to make distinctions between them, which helps to assess the magnitude of the problem and the treatment that is different. Conventional treatment has not been very effective.

Conclusions:

The management and treatment of phantom limb pain in amputated limbs is a priority to be overcome within the guidelines of modern medicine, which is why care intervention is necessary in order to improve the quality of life of the amputated patient and their better rehabilitation.

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