A person who has had an amputation may experience pain in the amputation stump.
Clinical features:
(1) The patient has a sharp or jabbing pain on or near the amputation stump.
(2) The pain may be made worse by pressure at the site. The patient may be unable to wear a prosthetic device.
(3) Tapping over a nerve may trigger pain.
Mechanism:
(1) A nerve may be trapped in fibrous tumor
(2) A traumatic neuroma may be present.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) phantom limb pain (see above)
(2) ischemia (if the limb was amputated for gangrene)
(3) abrasion or rubbing due to a poor fitting of the prosthesis
(4) infection
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic