Phantom radiculopathy: a rare postoperative phenomenon

Abstract

Limb amputations are carried out for a number of reasons, which include trauma, vascular disorders, infection, oncology and congenital abnormalities. These patients can develop multiple complications postoperatively with phantom limb pain being a well-recognised issue. That being said, phantom radiculopathy is far less encountered and can therefore be easily overlooked. There are limited cases described in literature and as a result pathophysiology is poorly understood. In this report, we present a patient who had developed phantom radiculopathy decades after his left above knee amputation surgery, which was performed after a road traffic accident. However, we were successfully able to treat the patient with foraminal epidural corticosteroid injection.

Keywords: drug therapy related to surgery; musculoskeletal and joint disorders; orthopaedic and trauma surgery; orthopaedics; pain (neurology).

Figure 1

Patient amputation level—front.

Figure 2

Patient amputation level—back.

Figure 3

MRI axial view—illustrating the angular disc bulge at L4/L5.

Figure 4

MRI sagittal view—disc bulges at L4/L5 and L5/S1 seen.

Figure 5

Foraminal corticosteroid injection.

Figure 6

Foraminal corticosteroid injection—lateral view.