Knee op may cause phantom pain

Friday June 4th, 2010

Patients who have knee replacements may suffer from phantom pain - and this could be tackled before the operation, a British researcher has told a major European conference.

As many as 20 per cent of patients continue to suffer pain following the procedure, the conference of the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Madrid, Spain, has been told.

More than 7,500 orthopaedic specialists have gathered for the conference.

Researchers from Bristol University, UK, say that many patients with osteo-arthritis have developed hypersensitivity to pain.

Vikki Wylde, a research associate, said a study of more than 100 patients has shown they are twice as sensitive to pain as others.

She said: "The finding that osteoarthritis patients have lower pressure pain thresholds at pain-free body sites distant to the knee indicates a dysfunction of pain modulation by the central nervous system.

"This central sensitisation can become self-sustaining which means that the perception of pain can continue after the elimination of the original cause of pain. Thus, a memory of pain develops."

She suggests that effective treatment of pain before surgery might help prevent phantom pain.

She said: "If chronic pain sensitivity is prevented through appropriate therapy prior to the operation, it would make the desired effect of stopping pain with the prosthesis significantly more likely."

Tags: Europe | Orthopaedics | Pain Relief | UK News

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