Abstract | OBJECTIVE: CASE REPORT: Two patients, after traumatic upper limb amputations and early phantom limb pain, were treated on the second and fifth day following amputation by continuous brachial plexus analgesia with ropivacaine 0.375% (30 ml for the initial block, continuous infusion rate = 5 ml/h) for 5 (Patient 1) and 9 days (Patient 2). Both patients received oral memantine (a noncompetitive NMDA-receptor antagonist) in increasing doses from 10 to 30 mg/d over a 4-week period. Ropivacaine only produced minor motor block, with almost unimpaired motor function. Memantine was well tolerated and no relevant side effects were observed. In both patients the treatment prevented the establishment of phantom limb pain, which did not reappear during follow-up of 1 year. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Ralph T Kiefer, Katja Wiech, Stephanie Töpfner, Max Haerle, Hans E Schaller, Klaus Unertl, Niels Birbaumer |
Journal | Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)
(Pain Med)
Vol. 3
Issue 2
Pg. 156-60
(Jun 2002)
ISSN: 1526-2375 [Print] England |
PMID | 15102164
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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