The relationships between phantom limb pain and both the etiology of amputation (blood clots, nonclot diabetes, and miscellaneous) and the occurrence of gangrene and/or infection were investigated in 92 unilateral lower extremity (LE) amputees who were seen sequentially. There were 55 above-knee (AK) and 37 below-knee (BK) amputations in 61 men and 31 women. The mean age was 51.4 years. The blood-clot etiology had the highest levels of phantom pain both pre- and postrehabilitation, the longest time interval between amputation and prosthetic fitting, and the greatest number of medical conditions. The nonclot diabetes and miscellaneous etiologies followed in order. A history of gangrene and/or infection was associated with higher levels of pain and longer time interval between amputation and prosthetic fitting.

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