experimental continuous peripheral nerve blocks-University of California, San Diego-phantom limb pain-residual limb pain

This intervention is a specialized medical procedure developed by the University of California, San Diego, involving the use of continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) to treat phantom limb pain and residual limb pain following amputation. The technique utilizes perineural catheters (typically femoral and sciatic for lower extremity amputations) to deliver a 6-7 day continuous infusion of high-concentration local anesthetics, such as ropivacaine (0.5%) or bupivacaine (0.3%). By bathing the injured nerves in anesthetic, the procedure aims to disrupt the reentrant neural pathways and dysfunctional cortical reorganization in the somatosensory cortex that are believed to sustain chronic phantom limb pain. Clinical trials have demonstrated that this prolonged, dense block can significantly reduce pain and improve physical and emotional functioning for several weeks to months post-treatment.

Other names

CPNBcontinuous peripheral nerve blockperineural local anesthetic infusion