Amputation for reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Wherever is my arm? Impaired upper limb position accuracy in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

“…Features such as a desire to amputate [7,9,26], perceptual distortions in size and shape [26,31,32], lack of self-ownership [11,13,26] and hostile feelings [26] have all been expressed by individuals about their affected limb. Cortical reorganisation in regions associated with the body schema (i.e.…”

Body Integrity Identity Disorder: Deranged Body Processing, Right Fronto-Parietal Dysfunction, and Phenomenological Experience of Body Incongruity

“…A minority of individuals with BIID proceed to the realization of the desire, and isolated reports testify a subjective increase in quality of life (Braam and de Boer-Kreeft 2009;First 2005), although systematic post-amputation investigations are lacking. This contrasts with the experience of patients with chronic, debilitating pain as a result of nerve avulsion, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS1) or fixed dystonia who request amputation, but typically continue to experience pain following amputation (e.g., see (Dielissen et al 1995;Edwards et al 2011)). Parallels with many psychiatric and neurological disorders of corporeal awareness have been made (see Table 1 for a summary), typically addressing the excessive attention, aversion or hatred towards the "disembodied" or "disowned" limb, and the compulsive thoughts and "practicing" behaviours people with BIID experience and execute.…”

Complex regional pain syndrome leading to bilateral upper limb amputation: A case report

“…7 In the largest series 28 patients had 34 amputations in 31 limbs for untenable pain, recurrent infection or to improve function. 4 However, amputation sites were varied consisting of the lower limb, fingers, rays, forearm, and only one patient underwent an above elbow amputation. The authors concluded overall that pain relief was rare and recurrence was frequent within the stump that precluded prosthetic use.…”

“…Amputation is an option for patients with severe chronic CRPS although pain relief has been reported to be unpredictable. 4 We report the case of a patient with severe sequential bilateral CRPS who has had both arms amputated above the elbow with a satisfactory outcome.…”