Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40778246›Full record

ArticleEplasty2025

Treatment of Phantom and Residual Limb Pain in Amputees With Targeted Muscle Reinnervation.

Cameron Cox, Andrew Chen, Gracie Baum, Andrew F Ibrahim, Evan Hernandez, Brendan MacKay

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Eplasty, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cameron CoxDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Andrew ChenDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Gracie BaumDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Andrew F IbrahimDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Evan HernandezDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Brendan MacKayDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Many amputees are left with chronic localized pain, centralized pain, and phantom limb pain or sensation, often resulting from neuromas in the residual limb. Historically, there is no reliably effective intervention for pain associated with neuroma-related residual or phantom limb pain. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a surgical procedure first described in 2002 that involves the transfer of residual nerves from amputated limbs to new muscle targets. TMR has been shown to significantly reduce neuroma pain and facilitate the use of prostheses. Methods: A prospective study was conducted of 61 patients who underwent TMR for neuroma treatment or prevention between 2017 and 2022. Primary outcomes included overall, phantom, and residual limb pain recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) forms for Pain Intensity, Quality, Interference, and Behavior. Retrospective data was collected for a propensity-matched cohort of non-TMR amputees to compare pain outcomes. Results: TMR was performed for 25 upper extremity and 35 lower extremity amputations, and 5 patients underwent TMR on multiple limbs. Significant reductions were observed in overall limb pain (-3.2 points), phantom limb pain (-2.6 points), and residual limb pain (-3.0 points) for the TMR cohort. Mean PROMIS scores for TMR patients were 49.7 for Pain Intensity, 54.0 for Pain Quality, 55.3 for Pain Interference, and 56.1 for Pain Behavior. At the 8.4-month follow-up, 43.8% of TMR patients (vs 84% of controls) remained on neuromodulators, opioids, or both, for pain control. Conclusions: TMR improved phantom and residual limb pain in amputees, as evidenced by clinically and statistically significant reductions in pain with reduced need for long-term opioids and/or neuromodulators. These findings support the current understanding of TMR but underscore the need for continued investigation to comprehensively assess the potential of this promising technique in improving the functional outcomes and quality of life in the amputee population.

Indexed as

AmputationPeripheral Nerve SurgeryPhantom Limb PainResidual Limb PainTargeted Muscle Reinnervation

Identifiers

PMID40778246
PMCPMC12331023

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.