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. 2025 Mar;47(6):1567-1576.
doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2374489. Epub 2024 Jul 11.

Development and pilot administration of the amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool

Kierra J Falbo  1   2 , Isabel F Baca  1   3 , John D Shaffer  1 , Brian J Hafner  4 , Erin E Krebs  1   5 , Mary E Matsumoto  1   6 , Andrew H Hansen  1   2   7 , Tonya L Rich  1   2
Affiliations

Development and pilot administration of the amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool

Kierra J Falbo et al. Disabil Rehabil. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: To develop and administer an assessment tool for facilitating patient-clinician discussions regarding amputation-related pain and sensation.

Materials and methods: An assessment tool was developed to measure the impact of different types of amputation-related pain and sensation on a patient's life. The tool first provides patients with written descriptions and images of three common types of amputation-related pain or sensations: residual limb pain, phantom limb sensation, and phantom limb pain. The tool then asks them to rate the frequency, intensity, and interference of each experience. Participants were also asked to provide qualitative descriptions of these experiences.

Results: Fifty Veterans with lower limb amputation participated in the study. In the past month, 74% reported experiencing residual limb pain, 76% reported phantom limb sensation, and 84% reported phantom limb pain, with 52% reporting all three. Participants' descriptions of some experiences were distinct, while others (e.g., "tingling") were common between experiences. Phantom limb pain had the most varied descriptions.

Conclusions: The amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool can be used to identify and measure the effects of different experiences on patients' lives, thereby improving the specificity of diagnosis and informing clinical treatment recommendations. Further development of this tool should include evaluating its psychometric properties.

Keywords: Amputees; chronic pain; pain measurement; phantom limb; rehabilitation.

Plain language summary

The amputation-related pain and sensation assessment tool was developed for use in patient–clinician discussions to identify and measure residual limb pain, phantom limb sensation, and phantom limb pain.In our sample, participants used common words to describe all three experiences.The use of illustrations in combination with descriptions may aid in differentiating these distinct experiences.Next steps for this assessment tool include further development of illustrations to represent patient diversity as well as evaluation of psychometric properties.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

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