Pain: phantom limb pain: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Pain: phantom limb pain

Sample item

A patient has burning pain in an amputated leg. Which of the following is a recognised treatment option?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mirror therapy, with a neuropathic agent such as gabapentin or amitriptyline

Phantom limb pain is a neuropathic pain arising from central and peripheral reorganisation after amputation. Treatment includes gabapentinoids, tricyclic antidepressants, mirror therapy and graded motor imagery, and sometimes neuromodulation. Further surgery rarely helps and may worsen the pain.

Option by option

  • A. Mirror therapy, with a neuropathic agent such as gabapentin or amitriptyline (correct)

    Correct. Neuropathic drugs and mirror therapy are established treatments.

  • B. Re-amputation at a higher level

    Re-amputation usually does not relieve and may worsen the pain.

  • C. Antibiotics for 6 weeks

    The pain is not infective, and antibiotics do not help.

  • D. Regular NSAIDs as the only treatment

    NSAIDs alone are ineffective for neuropathic pain.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, Mirror therapy, with a neuropathic agent such as gabapentin or amitriptyline. Phantom limb pain is a neuropathic pain arising from central and peripheral reorganisation after amputation.

Why is "Re-amputation at a higher level" not the answer?

Re-amputation usually does not relieve and may worsen the pain.

Why is "Antibiotics for 6 weeks" not the answer?

The pain is not infective, and antibiotics do not help.

Why is "Regular NSAIDs as the only treatment" not the answer?

NSAIDs alone are ineffective for neuropathic pain.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pain: phantom limb pain in Anaesthesia. Treatment includes gabapentinoids, tricyclic antidepressants, mirror therapy and graded motor imagery, and sometimes neuromodulation. Further surgery rarely helps and may worsen the pain.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Pain: phantom limb pain?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.