TEMPORARY ATTENUATION OF PHANTOM LIMB PAIN AFTER SPINAL-ANESTHESIA WITH BUPIVACAINE AND CLONIDINE

Two cases are reported of patients with phantom limb pain after lower limb amputation and requiring surgery of their stump. The stumps were revised and the remaining femoral shaft shortered. Both had spinal ana esthesia for this procedure, with an association of bupivacaine and 15 0 mug of clonidine. In one patient. the phantom pain did not resume fo r one month, and in the other for three days. The return of pain was p receded by the sensation of a phantom limb. These cases suggest that a lpha 2 adrenergic agonists could play a major part in the treatment of phantom limb pain.