Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection to the Residual Limb Stalk Facilitated the Treatment of a Painful Above-Knee Residual Limb Neuroma

Abstract

Background: A post-amputation neuroma can cause chronic persistent residual limb pain in amputees. Painful neuromas are difficult to identify with clinical examination alone because most of them are deeply buried.

Findings: We presented a patient with pain over his left above-knee residual limb, aggravating 40 years after amputation. The pain originated from a previously undetected neuroma and was relieved following a single dose of ultrasound-guided steroid injection to the neuroma stalk.

Conclusion: Ultrasound is beneficial for differentiating the cause of residual limb pain and a single corticosteroid injection targeting the neuroma stalk appeared effective for pain relief.

• Amputation
• neuroma
• pain
• ultrasound
• steroid injection

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.