Does spinal anesthesia decrease the incidence of phantom pain

Abstract The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate the effects of anesthesia type on phantom pain or sensation. A questionnaire of ten questions on phantom pain and sensation was sent by mail to patients who underwent lower extremity amputation surgery between 1996 and 2003 at Erciyes University Hospital. A total of 40 patients (age 51.0 ± 10.7 years, 80% male) who had general anesthesia and 27 patients (age 56.3 ± 14.0 years, 78% male) who had spinal anesthesia returned the questionnaire.Phantom pain incidences were defined as 33% in the spinal anesthesia group and 65% in the general anesthesia group and the difference was statistically significant. Phantom sensation incidences were 74% in the spinal anesthesia group and 77% in the general anesthesia group and the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, phantom pain incidence was lower in amputees treated with spinal anesthesia.